THE NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 33, 7 February 1913, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND.

A THOROUGH INSPECTION. f ßy Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, February 6. There was a complete absence of pomp and ceremony. The King first inspected the bakery, examined the white bread and recalled that when he was first at sea the bluejackets had to put up with weevily biscuits and maggoty flour. He then inspected the hydraulic-loading 12-inch guns with a rate of three rounds per minute. Engineer-Commander Turner showed him the mew machinery in the engine-room. Seeing the mauve, white and green upiholstery in the gun-room, he remarked * “It is more like a lady’s boudoir.” This led to a general laughter, when someone pointed out that these were the suffragette colors. The crew introduced the ship’s mascot, a bull pup named Pelorus Jack. The King was photographed beneath the shield of the New Zealand arms. Ho afterwards inspected the Iron Duke, George V., and Queen Elizabeth. The latter is now an inert mass of ribs and plates. Ho then visited the floating dock and inspected the latest submarine.

EMBLEM OF A NEW ERA.” • PRESS COMMENT. The Telegraph says 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, being the first gift by the daughter lands to the navy, whereon 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 Britain’s sea supremacy from her. The New Zealand will carry British ideals of efficiency around the globe. She is charged with those aspirations of the Empire which are searching a means of translating the proverb “Union is strength” into terms that the world will understand. A BREATH OF THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER. (Received 10.55 a.m.) Melbourne, February 7. Some feeling of resentment in official quarters at so much comment having arisen over the inspection of the New Zealand and the reference in the English press to this being the first start of the Overseas Dominions to build their own fleet units. It is questioned here whether the decision of New Zealand to build a battleship, or even the earlier gift of a Dreadnought, was really the first step in that direction, and Australia is suggested. “Rather Australia should be given credit for having led the colonies in that Imperial movement,” is being remarked among the defence authorities. The Melbourne left Britain only the other day fully manned with an Australian crew, and there was no such demonstration on her departure as was made in connection with the inspection of the New Zealand, nor was there a similar celebration when either of the Australian destroyers left England. The inference is drawn that the officers representing Australia are not learned in the art of advertising as well as those of her sister colony. London, February G. The New Zealand has sailed.