H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 November 1917, Page 3

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

AT the Wellington. Navy League concert Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of a speech, said that Admirals Jellicoe and Halsey informed .him that in the Jutland Battle H.M.S. Now Zealand fired more rounds than any other ship engaged. She had taken an active part in all the naval engagements since the beginning of the war, and had done great execution. When making the tourof New Zealand in 1913, the Maoris gave Captain Halsey gifts, among which was a waist mat. Captain Halsey assured the natives that if the ship went into action he would wear the mat. Sure enough, in the first battle, Captain Halsey appeared with only the Maori mat on, and donned this uniform also on a second occasion, when the New Zealand put the final shots into the Bluoher. The Captain was promoted, and on leaving the ship handed the mat over to Captain Green, conveying to him the Maoris' message. Captain Green • also appeared in the turret wearing the lucky apparel on a subsequent occasion, "I don't know," said Sir Joseph, "if any of you are superstitious—l'm sure I'm not—but ,itis a remarkable fact that though the New Zealand has been in the thick of things, she has only been hit once."