AUSTRALIAN FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FLEET.

•♦- In the Commonwealth Senate on September 27, Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, said that the actual expenditure on the construction of tho fleet up to Juno 30 Inst was .£1,875,999. The amount provided on the estimates for 1912-13 was .£IBO,OOO townrds the cost of a Bubmnrine ship mid .£295,000 for naval works; X 950.000 under Home Affairs Deportment, and 41200,000 under Naval Department. The balance of tho amount of tho complete works for which preliminary pro. vision had been made was .£615,000 (Home Affairs Department i! 255,000 and Naval Department .£300,000). Tho works were as follow:—Homo Affairs DepartmentNaval College, .Tcrris Hay, ,£130,000; Naval College, Gcolong, .£8000; Flinders Naval Base, ,£200,000; M'illinmstown Gunnery and Torpedo School, .£12,000. (Of this £95.000 had already been voted towards the flinders Nnvnl llase; the balance to bo-voted was 4:255,000). Under Naval Department, 41300.000, which was required to complete the works, was made up as follows:—Flinders Naval Base, .£200,000 (had already been voted); Cockburn Sound Base. .£15,000; Port Stephens Base, .£15,000; and dredges and plant, .£IOO,OOO (it was estimated that these works would extend over about four years). Tho cost of 'maintenance, of the fleet unit was 41248,738 in 1911-12, and in 1912-13, when additional vessels would have to be provided for. the cost would l>e £659,378. In 1913-14, when the complete fleet unit would bn here, .£1.080,000 would be necessary. These amounts only dealt with maintenance, and had no reference to depreciation. Feel like giving it up, worried, despondent, can't eat. Try Stearns' Wine of Cod Liver Extract, increase your appotito, restore your health, restore Hie lost energy, ami be yourself.—Advt. 3 A meeting of representatives of the contributing bodies of (he Wellington District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpo.se of filling, by election, the vacancy created on thobnard by the retirement of llr. R. C. Kirk. There were seventeen representatives present, and the proceedings were pleasantly unanimous. Councillor .fas. Trevor (who is also chairman of the Hospital Board) briefly addressed the meeting, and referred in eulogistic tonus to Mr. R. C. Kirk's loni? and honourable connection with hospital administration in the Wellington district. Mr. Kirk, said the speaker, had made the Wellington Hospital his life, hobby. Mr. Trevor concluded by proposing Councillor L. M'Konzio as Mr. Kirk's successor, and the proposal was carried unanimously. His Worship the Mayor will give a public reception to Mr. Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brnytnn at the Town Hall at i p.m. on Thursday. "Pleased as Punch" would exactly describe that person's feelings who was so fortunate as to ho invited to go for a ride in a "Bradbury" Side-car. The "Brndbury" Motor Cycle is the ideal machine for Side-car work. It has a hi* engine that will take you anywhere, and is thoroughly reliable. You c-an see this fino machine at E. Reynolds and Co., Ltd., Victoria Streot.-Advt. 50 Cuba Street is still worth a visit of inspection, and o\lr assistants are only too pleased to demonstrate any or all wonderful "Wertheiin" Sewing Machines in either plain sewing or art sewing, and no charge is made for such domoiist ration. Yon are most cordially invited to visit us. Oscar Howett: and Co., AG Cuba Street.— Advt. The Nev Zealand Loon and Mcrcantilti Agency Company, Limited, will hold n horse sale at Messrs. O'Brien and Co.'s vards, Dixon Street, at 1 p.m., on October 12. "You are a fraud, sir!" cried the indignant patient. "You guaranteed yinir medicine to_ cure after everything' else I'Mleil." "Well, my ck-nr sir,'' replied the quack, "probably you havcu't tried every.