A PRESENTATION FROM THE COLONY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XII, 19 March 1904, Page 24

A PRESENTATION FROM THE COLONY.

The launch of the ‘New Zealand,” says the "Auckland Star," may help to reuse public enthusiasm over a suggestion connected therewith which hcs~ already received very favourable attention in the South. The bestowal of the colony’s name upon one of the most formidable of England’s ships of war is professedly a recognition of the loyalty and patriotism that New Zealand has always displayed, and more especially during the great struggle in South Africa four years ago. It has been proposed in several independent quarters that the colony might gracefully acknowledge the honour that has been paid us by making seme sort of presentation to the new battleship, to be held by its officers and crew. According to the “Otago Doily Times" the honour of making the first move in this direction belongs to Auckland, where a lady, writing to the press

three months ago, proposed that ths women of this colony ahould present a service of plate to the “New Zealand.” Uufurtunately, there was no public response to the suggestion; and the movement whieh bow seems likely to produce some practical result was started bv Mr James Crajgie, Mayor of Timaru.’ An enthusiastic meeting was held in Timaru last Wednesday, and it was then decided to open subscription lists for the purpose of raising money to present annual gunnery prizes to the battleship, A shilling subscription from adults, and a peunv subscription from school children would provide very handsome and substantial proofs of the interest we take in the new warship, and would help many of the defenders of the Empire to realise the strong personal attachment which binds every man and woman in the colony to the Motherland. The Christchurch “Press” has proposed that a penuy subscription should be collected throughout our schools, and that a shilling fund should be opened by the Mayors of all towns throughout the colony; and no doubt all that is required to guarantee the success of this effort is a prompt appeal endorsed by the municipal authorities, or by our representative public men. The Premier has been approached, but does not see his way to suggest that Government should take Up the movement officially: and, indeed, it appears to us that the gift will come with a better grace as the spontaneous offering of the people. The promoters of the fund have pointed out that the men of Kent, Donegal, and Hampshire have presented plate and trophies to the cruisers bearing their names; and there should be no difficulty in raising in this colony a sum that may help to remind our kinsfolk at Home that we are as much interested in the fleet and the Empire as if we had all been born in England or Scotland or Ireland. It has been appropriately suggestd that the children’s fund should be used to procure a silver ship’s bell, or some similar object that would be a permanent possession of the crew; and if all our towns display the same amount of earnestness about this matter as Timaru, the success of the movement will speedily be assured. We commend this proposal to the notice of cur public bodies and to the local branch ci the New Zealand Natives’ Association. which may be expected to take up the idea with genuine enthusiasm.