FREE BATTLESHIPS FOR JOHN BULL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 98, 22 May 1909, Page 3

FREE BATTLESHIPS FOR JOHN BULL.

Xew Zealand's offer to present a Dreadnought to Britain is not an altogether unique occurrence, several of our colonies and dependencies having emulated her good example in days gone by (savs a Home paper). Thus, ill 18!)/. Si,- (lop'On Bprigg offered, '"on behalf of the white inhabit ants of South Africa," to give, us a fullyequipped first-class battleship. The offer was accepted, but owing to the war it hung fire somewhat, eventually, however, materialising in the shape of the two first-class cruisers, flood Hope and Xatal.

In 1889, again, Australia contributed ' no fewer than six ships to the Imperial Xavy. Kadi of these was a typically fine vessel of her class, and out of compliment to the donors they were given names reminiscent of their place of origin, one being called, for example, the Boomerang, another the Wallaroo, a third the Jfingarooma, and so on. - So long ago as 17711 the Anglo-Indian community voluntarily put their hands in their pockets In order to present the British Admiralty with three line-of-battlcshi|/s carrying seventy-four guns apiece. The liovernment gratefully accepted the gift, but w-'nen the vessels were built 'and delivered it was discovered that there were no sailors available | for manning them. Whereupon the generous donor* got up a second subscription, and. by offering heavy bounties, enlisted the services of no fewer l),aa six thousand seamen. These three gift ships were al>o named after their country of origin, being christened respectively the Climatic, the (hinge-, and the Bombay Castle. In those day;., too. our own maritime shires and towns, recognising how their very existence depended upon a supreme ami powerful Xavy. frequently went to the length of providing ship» outright. Durham, for instance, built and equipped upon one occasion no fewer than three cruisers, which she hauled over without 'fee or reward to the (lovcinment of the idav. Cardiff, Liverpool. Kdiaburgh. and other cities followed suit . Suffolk, amongst the counlie-. distinguished herself bv contributing live fristates, costing over 'el. 1)110,0111): while Sus.-cx and Cornwall each gave a battleship.