AN INTERESTING BOOK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 100, 4 September 1942, Page 5

AN INTERESTING BOOK

NAVAL REVIEW 1896

SOUVENIR OF QUHKN'S JUBILEE

An interesting link with the more peaceful days of the past is furnished by a targe Morocco bound 1 volume of photogravures depicting the great naval review at Spithead held in 1896—the occasion being Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and which is now in the possession of Mrs Alice Brown of Whakatane.

The volume which measures 20 inches by 15 inches, was presented by Queen Victoria to all the' specially invited guests Avho travelled with her on the flagship S.S. 'Teutonic,' which in those days was considered the last word in luxury ships. Apparently only a limited number were printed and the illustrations give a wonderful description of the old ironclads, which Ave re then the most powerful in the world. After dwelling in detail upon the 'Teutonic,' illustrating the lounges, reading rooms and cabins, the book proceeds to give a pictorial record of the review. Line upon line of the odd ships of Britain's fleet arc shown with the flagship steaming through. Many of them are both steam and sail-rigged while in al'l instances the crews are to< be seen standing at the rail, on the yardarms and in some instances high in the crow's nest of the then new T est types of dreadnoughts. The fleet, at night is shown picked out in electric lights while a large section is also devoted to the builders ami designers of the 'Teutonic' itself.

Altogether the book is a most interesting record of the closing days of the good Queen's reign and in view of the present appeal for books and records for a Dominionwide auction in the interests of Patriotic funds Mrs Brown liasi expressed her willingness to forward the volume to Wellington for this purpose.