IN MEMORY OF NELSON

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 9

IN MEMORY OF NELSON

TRAFALGAR SUPPER. DE. FINDLAY'S EULOGIUM. The annual Trafalgar Supper of the Wellington Navy Leaguo was held at the Hotel Windsor last night. The Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister for Justice, presided over an attendance of about fifty geutle- ' men. The Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, I M.P.), who is ex-ofiicio president, of tho 1 branch, arrived during the evening. Those present included: Colonel Eobin (Chief of the General Stair), Colonel Collins (Executive Officer of tho Dominion RiQo Association), Colonel Purdy, Lieiit.-Coloiiel Campbell (Officer Commanding tho Wellington Division Garrison , Artillery), Lieut. Cooper, E.N.R., the Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., Mr. Robert Leo (chairman of tho Wellington Education Board), Mr. R. Fletcher (chairman of tho Wellington Harbour Board), and Mr. K'. C. Tewsley (president of the Chamber of Commerce). The supper hod originally be arranged for Trafalgar Day (October 21), and it was hoped that the postponement for five days would enable Captain R. F. Scott,' E.N., leader of the Antarctic Expedition, to be present. Owing to the late arrival of the Sydney boat, which was at the time somewhere out in the Strait, this hope was disappointed. "The Imperishable Memory." ■ The chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, "The Imperishable Memory of Nelson," remarked that it. had been finely said that the name of Nelson did more than recall a personality and a career—it excited a force. "No name," he said, "appeals more largely or more 1 vividly to our sense of national pride. No name stirs in us so deeply an appreciation of our naval ■ supremacy. No name awakens dn our breast so many grateful memories of glorious national service and heroic devotion to duty. Thus the memory of Nelson is to-day a living power. It is a call to public duty, trumpet-clear—an eloquent and everlasting reminder of how much we owe our freedom and our' high place among the nations of the earth to the long self-sacrifice of a noble lifo-an ideal of''lofty,'disinterested patriotism—a magnificent and stimulating, example-of courage, patience,-'and' self-mastery, of how to fight, of how to conquer, and how to die. His splendid self-mastery appealed to us the more that it was not 6et in a. nature of flint and iron. It was a great human heart that in the agony of its dying hour said, 'Kiss me, Hardy.' Nelson—the lover of boys, the kindest hearted friend, the gentlest of spiirts in all his peaceful relations with men, the. human-hearted man ■'■we loved—melted our admiration for his marvellous qualities as a fighter into the warmer and stronger regard of enduring affection. As long as'our nation lasted, he" would bo at once its pride and its incentive, andwherever our flag floated, here, as in tho remotest corner of the Empire, -\ve< revered and blessed the name of Nelson." (Applause,) , The League and the Schools. ..Mr. Robert Lee,,chairman of the Wellington Education .Board, in proposing the toast of tho Navy League, emphasised its value as serving. to'inculcate in the rising generation; a pride in our past history and in our national prospects. 'Al-most-all the schools in the Wellington district, secondary and primary, were in * full touch with the league,- and it was very gratifying to note the progress made in promoting a, love of historical redd:infe. .-■■'

Mr. Wilford, in responding on'-behalf of the Navy League, said, that practically the life and being of the league in Wei-, lingfcon was" its secretary, Mr. Cecil Palmer, who was very largely responsible for the enthusiasm that marked their Harboring that evening. " Peoplo in this Dominion who did net believe that a strong .Navy was necessary: were Wind to possibilities. New Zealand must give all possible support to the British Navy for the strength of. the Navy, meant-not only protection for tlio .'country,' but.-protec-tion of trade, routes;-' jit was impossible to realise what, the ; power of .a' great Navy meant/to every single individual, in this country. . Only the ■' withdrawal: of that protection would make -its value, known. .'- •.-'■ „ . "The Spirit of the People."; Mr. H. C. Tewsley, pfesidont of the Wellington' Chamber 'of -Commerce, in .proposing "The Imperial Defence Forces," expressed gratification at ■ the practical recognition by the Parliament and people of New Zealand that the tamo had now come when we should share the responsibilities ae well as tlio glories ofthe Empire. ■ (Applause.) -■ Lieutenant, Cooper,. ; ;E.N.E., responded for the Navy. ; . "'-."'•' _ '■''■".'

Colonel Robin,',.in replying".cm' : behalf of the■•military.' forces, .remarked 1 .'that the form in which the toast stood typi-'. fled a great wielding of the -various branches of the naval and''military services into one great Imperial force. The Navy League; was doing a great, work in educating the. young people. Continue ing,. Colonel. Robin remarked that in past times as at present the condition of the army and navy had been subjected' to a fierco: light of/criticism, and perhaps it was not altogether a bad thing. Everything depended in the final event on. the spirit of the people, the spirit that, at Waterloo, -had' made Napoleon : say. "They havo been beaten for hours, these islanders, why do they -not run?" The toast of "The Press" was proposed by Colonel Purdy, and "The Chairman" by Mr. R. Fletcher. Contributors to the musical programme included Messrs. Clarkson (who. sang Major Courtney's "What We Havo We'll Hold"), H. Walton, R.N. (Waikanao), G.. Toogood, R. Robertson, and A. W. Nowton. ■~