BATTLESHIP NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 7

BATTLESHIP NEW ZEALAND

KING GEORGE’S INSPECTION. LONDON, February 6. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, K.C.8., Commandor-in-Chief at Portsmouth, and Rear-Admiral Herbert Leopold Heath, Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, received his Majesty the King on' the occasion of his visit of inspection to the battleship New ZeaHis Majesty was accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward (Premier of New Zealand when the gift of the vessel was made), Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Hon. James Allen (New Zealand Minister of Defence), Mr Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), Mr Lewis Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies), Mr T. J. Macnamara (former Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty), Vice-Admiral Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe (commanding the Second Squadron), Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg (personal aide-de-camp to the King and a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty), and others. The King devoted over an hour on a general tour of the ship, and was particularly interested in the barbette, where the crew operated the 12-inch guns and also the gyroscope compass. His Majesty was greatly amused at the decorations of the gun room, which somewhat resembled a lady's boudoir. Before leaving his Majesty was photographed amidst the New Zealand s officers, and he expressed to Captain Halsey (commander of the New Zealand) his gratification, and wished the officers an enjoyable voyage. The New Zealand-bom officers and men on the New Zealand were presented to the King. A UNIT OF THE PACIFIC FLEET. LONDON, February 5. The “Graphic” says that the battleship New Zealand’s proper place is as a unit of the Pacific fleet, and not standing in lieu of a ship which ought to be built by the Home Government. THE COLONIES AND THE MOTHERLAND. SYDNEY, February 6. The “Daily Telegraph" says: “The Empire’s grateful recognition of New Zealand’s action in presenting a battle-cruiser is another example or the large-hearted manner in which the colonies are treated by the Mother Country. We have just as much at stake upon Great Britain retaining command of the sea as any other portion of the Empire; yet, when action is to bo taken to show that we realise the justice—not to speak of policy of taking the share of the burden belonging bo us, British public opinion expresses itself as if we were conferring some favour on the Empire, which would willingly have gone on providing for our defence whether we did so or not. In strengthening the arm of the Empire in the North Bea wo are simply making provision, pro panto, for our own safety. It is an eminently practical thing to do, but that it involved any special display of an altruistic spirit which one might imagine from the comments by some sections of the British press is somewhat difficult to discern.” “ NO EMPTY FORMALITY.” “EMBLEM OF A NEW ERA.” (Received February 6, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. The “ Daily Telegraph ” states that the King’s inspection Was no empty formality. He is a practical sailor and an inheritor of the wardenship of the seven seas. The New Zealand is an emblem of a new era, and the first gift of the daughter-lands to the Navy, on which every Imperial interest depends. The vessel is a source of pride to every Englishman and a subject of amazement to those who thought to wrest Great Britain’s sea supremacy. The Now Zealand will carry British ideals of efficiency around the globe. She is charged with the aspirations of an Empire which is searching for a means of translating the proverb “Union is strength ” into terms that the world will understand. COMPLETE ABSENCE OF POMP. SHIP’S MASCOT, “PELORUS JACK.” (Received February 6, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. There was a complete absence of pomp at the ceremony. The King first inspected the bakery, and examined the white bread. He re called the time when he first went to sea when bluejackets had to put up with weevily biscuits and maggoty He’ inspected the hydraulic loading of tho twelve-inch guns at the rate oi three rounds a minute. The engineer (Commander Turner) showed him the new machinery in the engine room. Seeing the mauve, white and green upholstery in the gunroom, his Majesty remarked that the room was more .ike a lady’s boudoir. This led to general laughter, when someone pointed jut that the colours were tho suffra;ette colours. The crew introduced tho ship’s mascot, a bull pop named Pelorua Jack.

The King was photographed beneath tho shield bearing the Now Zealand arms, and afterwards inspected the Iron Duke, the George V., and the Queen Elizabeth. Tho latter is now an inert mass of ribs and plates. His Majesty also visited tho floating dock and examined the latest submarine. COCKATOO ISLAND DOCKYARD. SYDNEY. February 6. The dismissals from tho Cockatoo Island Dockyard, taken over by tho Commonwealth, number 70, not 250, as previously stated. CRUISER MELBOURNE. MALTA, February 6. The Australian cruiser Melbourne has arrived here.