H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 111, 13 January 1915, Page 4

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Lady Liverpool is evidently pcKess.ed of important facts with regard to how the, approximately, seven hundred men on the battleship "New Zealand" ■are faring in an exceedingly Lard and trying winter, in the North Sea, watching, catlike, for ' opportunity to pounce upon any German ship that may venture out of its hiding place. Those only who have crossed from England ho the Baltic in midwinter, when the very moisture ,of one’s breath freezes into ice, and hangs in tiny icicles from hair on the upper lip, can conceive of anything like the trying ordeal the ’men In our navy are undergoing. Lady Liverpool has put the needs of the men on our battleship before us just about ns delicately as they could be put, and it is to bo hoped her Ladyship's message will hot be regarded with any loss concern on that account. New Zealanders gave birth to the magnificent warship and it is only natural they should feel a paternal interest in the bravo, men who stand ready to risk everything in this life, oven to life itself, in .fulfil ment, to the last effort, of the purposes for which our grimly beautiful warship was built. The men have had to endure this winter, what only the strongest constitutions can stand; they have been exposed to weather and icy watered seas to such an extent that it is impossible to obtain the protection they urgently and badly need, with one coat. Lady Liverpool suggests that there arc amongst us some who can afford to give half-a-crown towards buying one. of these men, who are standing on the decks of our warship in a half-frozen condition, in almost a perpetual galA straining their eyes for a sight of our

enemy, a new coat that will assist in keeping some of the force of the elements out. No organised canvas has been suggested; those who feel disposed are asked to just scud the half-crown to Lady Liverpool direct as a New Year ’s gift to our sailors, marking the envelope containing it across the top left-hand corner, "H.M.B. Now Zealand Fund." Should there be any willing givers who find it inconvenient to despatch their half-crown, we shall bo pleased ■ send it for them and to see that it is acknowledged through the Pros'-- In accordance with Lady Liverpo 1 intimation.