AN OLD WARSHIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3191, 15 September 1917, Page 6

AN OLD WARSHIP

• * — TO REPLACE THE HINEiIOA. There is a possibility .that 11.U.5. Torch, one of tho oldest ships in the Royal Navy may bo patched up again iind made (sound enough.!" have an err fended period of usefulness. 11 is a> very long time einco the Torch could be' termed n fighting- ship. Indeed, nearly ten years ago there was a little, fuss at tho Admiralty when some members of the House of Commons'found out that theship hnd been sent to sea in an unsea-«-orlh.v condition. That affair, and also Ihi? ship, were patched up, and in the intervening years the. Torch has been cruising about' among- the coral reefs of the Pacific. When Ihe'irar broke out the Torch wan in Wellington Harbour, and has been lied up at the breastwork at the north end of tho wharf system ever since. Mr. Hindniarsh asked -in the House of Kepresentatijes yesterday whether there was any proposal to put Ihe ship to any ■olhiT ii«e. The Hon. 0. W. Russell said lhat the Khip had been taken over by Ihe New Zealand Governnicnt. and had been renamed Kama, Maori • for Torch. Thfl proposal wns (hat the vessel be used in place of the Ilinenioa. which. I>y 'fion of age. oufrht lo bo laid aside. A:report of (he Department was that it would require .£IO,OOO lo change the Torch from her present condition (o> iiinke the vessel suitable lo replace the Hinemoa. Mr. Toolc: 11. would be money thrown away; enough lo buy a iio\r-sliip. Mr. Russell said that as JilO.Oflo had been on.the .Insinuates for Hip purpose of nuyitifr a vessel, as a substilute for the llineinoa. it was proposed lo asV the T'inance. Minister to that this vote be il ransferred to iuakc the alterations to tho Rama, lo fit her for coastal se-r----vices done by Ihe Hinemoa. . Mr. l?oole: of money. Mr. Russell: The honourable niomWr may b» an expert, but the Government is likely to give, consideration to tlie ndvice of tho exnerls who are oaid .I>y. tho Government for their services.