h.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 5

h.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

MELBOURNE BANQUET.

DOMINIONS' DEFENCE NEEDS,

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Melbourne, April 7. At the (iinaor in honour of the visit ' of H.ALS. New Zealand, Mr. Hughes, Commonwealth Attorney-General, in tho ■ courso of his speech, said ho.was a member of a party that dearly loved peace, but tho day when it could bo scoured ■ was not yd. "Therefore there is only ' 0110 thing to do, and wo are' doing it— ' we, tho Commonwealth and New Zealand." It ivas no uso relying on tho brotherhood of man, which ho was afraid 1 was about as valuable "as a silk umbrella would lie to protect us from shrapnel." "Wo have," ho added, "to tako an activo part in tho defence of tho Empire." Captain Halsey declared that when in future any foreign nation came to weigh up England's chances of defending herself, tho Dominions would liavo to go into tho scale, and they would carry down tho whole weight and cause the foreigner to think better of it. Air. F. M. B. 1 ishcr, New Zealand Minister for Customs, said they could ' not expect for ono moment to hold what they already had without a common effort on tho part of tho Empire to mako itself ; so impregnable that war would bo so fearsome a thing that an enemy would | not attempt it. Touching reciprocity, ho 1 declared that ,ho had como over to do something which should bo delightful to 1 Commonwealth Ministers—namely, to form a trades union. Mr. Hughes, responding to tho toast "Tho Chairman," said tho balance of the world was shifting, and when the Panama Canal was opened it might bo that the equilibrium would be so upset that in the Pacific a decisive battlo for Empire might be fought. If so, a wido field indeed, would open upon them —perhaps too wido for tho present peoples, but not too ; wido for tho potential possibilities of Canada; Australia, and New Zealand. CITIZENS' NAVAL BALL. A special meeting of.the General Committee to arraugo for tho citizens' naval bal was held in the Town Hall last night, Mr. J. B. Harcourt presiding. Arrangements wero made for tho disposal of tickets by members of tho committee. • Mr. W. H. P. Barber suggested that cue committee responsible for tho decorations might consider tho question of draping tho ceiling after the style of a Union Jack. This suggestion was referred to the. Ladies' Committee. ™s mentioned that liis Excellency tho Governor would, according to present arrangements, bo absent from Wellington on the date of t'lie ball. Members of the committee were strongly of opinion that the presence of the Governor at the vnri.ous functions would be necessary foi their success. Eventually it was decided that tho Mayor (Mr. M'Laron), Mr. W H I'. Barber, Br. Martin, and Mesdames P. M. B. Fisher, and 'Williams should form n deputation, and. wait upon the Minister for Internal Affairs, W ask. him to urge their Excellencies to bo present if they could possibly make it convenient to do so. CITIZENS' PETE. The Citizens' Peto Executive met in the Mayor's room at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when various matters in eon- : licction with tho function were dealt with. Tho Mayor (Mr. D. 1 M'Laren) presided. Arrangements were mado to provide luncheon at the Park, and also to lmve refreshments on tho ground. The final dealing with tlieso matters was left in tho hands of a special committeeof three ladies, Mrs. Fletcher to.' bo convener. Tho City Engineer (Mr. XV. H. Morton) undertook to provide marquees for the occasion. Dancing displays were also discussed. Tho general programme will be submitted to a meeting of the sub-commit-teo at 8 o'clock to-night. THE SCHOOL-CHILDREN. . Tho school-children of the choir which is being organised by the Navy League in connection with tho projected reception of tho New ■ Zealand were put through their paces at a highly successful rehearsal conducted in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall yesterday. About six hundred children took part. Another rehearsal will be held in the 6ame place to-morrow at 4 p.m. Letters have como from a number of country schools to Mr. C. W. Palmer, of tho Navy League, reiterating the necessity of parents being allowed to travel with their children in tho excursion trains which are to bo run in connection with the visit of tho battle-cruiser. Another subjoct raised in letters from country schools is that of providing accommodation for visiting children. It is proposed that most of the children should visit tho battle-cruiser and return to their homos on tho same day, but in the capo of those wiio como from more distant places this will bo i impossible. It has been suggested that patriotic householders might consent to billet the children, Hi small parties, for a night, and Mr. Palmer would be glad to hear from people willing to do so. - Numerous letters and inquiries addressed to Mr. Palmer by yachtsmen and others indicate that serious inconvohienca j i j. caused unless immediate steps arc taken to ascertain the hour ot which the New Zealand will .arrive at Wellington. j- a '' ne iL has referred inquirers to Mr. B. M. Wilson,- of the Tourist Department, who is superintending tho reception arrangements on behalf of tho Govern-

ment. ORPHANS CLUB. The Orphans Club hold a most enthusiastic meeting last night. Colonel Collins, 0.J1.G., presided. The question of the visit Of H.M.S. New Zealand was introduced by Messrs, Batt and Hanlon, all( } I V vas that the commaudcr nnd officers of H.M.S. New Zealand bo invited to the entertainment. The executive decided ns a fitting reception to Provide n "ladies' night" in,the -Town ilall to welcome the officers. An elaborate prograniniohas been arranged. Some of the best_ artists in Wellington havo signined their intention of assisting tho Orphans to entertain tho commander and oUicer.s. THE VISIT TO LYTTELTON, (13y Telegraph.—l'rese Association.) ' nr n ,^-,?- hristchurch , A P r 'l '• t i r 'u ' Vn i? Williams, secretary of tho Lyttelton Harbour Board, received tho following reply to his me«s*g© fortvarded on Saturday to H.M.S. Now Zealand ■ .Not arriving Lyttelton until after tho visit to Auckland in May. Will communicate further concerning entcrm" the port of Lyttelton.—lTalsey, New Zealand." The Citizens' Naval Ball, which is organised as a weleome to Captain ilalsey anil tho officers of the Now Zealand, is advertised in another column, lasts of the members of the Ball Committee, from whom lickcts may bo' obtained are given, ami citizons desirous of attend! mg the! lunut ioni aro warned tlmt early application for tickets is necessary