BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8289, 17 November 1906, Page 5

BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR.

OENTKNARiT SOUVENIRS. During the interval at the Biograph entertainment, in the Town Hall, last, evening, the Rev. E. W. Matthews, Secretary of the British and Foreign 1 Sailors' Society, presented to the Town Clerk (Mr R. Brown), in the absence of the Mayor and Deputy-Mayor, a copper plaque, as is centenary souvenir of the Battle of Trafalgar. The plaque is made of copper taken from the flagship Victory, in whiah Neison fought and won the Battle of Trafalgar. On tbe face of the plaque is the stamp of the Victory 'being towed into Gibraltar after tbe battle oi Trafalgar, with Nelson's body in the cockpit. The whole ship is set in a life-buoy with tbe wcrding of Nelson's famous signal running around it. The plaque bears the initials of King Ed ward -"E.R. 711," Tbe Rev. Mr Matthews has also presented to the Masterton District High School an oaken shield in wbioh is set a copper plaquo with tbe image of the flagship Victory. Both the oak and the dipper are taken from tbe flagships Victory and Foudrvyant, and are the gifts of the Lords of the Admiralty to tbe British and Foreign Sailors' Society. The sbield will bo competed for annually by th« boys and girls attending the school. ,The winner each year will have his or ner name engraved nn tbe sbield. The Rev. Mr Matthew*, last evening, informed a Wairarapa Age reporter that he came out to New Zealand on the invitation of tbe iate Mr Seddou, and as the result of negotiations with the late Premier, the "Victory" stall was erected at the New Zealand Exhibition. That Mr Mattbews has the sympathy of. the Eduoation Department in his mission is evident from a letter he reoeived from the Inspector-General of Schools. Tbe letter warmly commended the patriotic and educational {movement inaugurated by tbe Lords of tbe Admiralty, and stated that tbe Minister of Eduoation would bo glad of Mr Mattbews* assistance in infusing this patriotio feeling into the schools in New Zealand. Mr Matthews explained that any funds resulting from his colonial tour would be given for the benefit of seamen. The funds would be utilised in establishing sailors' homes in various ports of tbe Empire for the use of British seamen. Thejplaque presented to tbe Corporation of Masterton, last evening, will he hung in tbe Borough Oounoil Chambers.