PRACTICAL PROOF.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3169, 21 April 1909, Page 4

PRACTICAL PROOF.

Following the announcement at the Sydney Town Hall meeting that Mr Hugh Dixon was prepared to offer £5,000 "at once" towards the cost of a Dreadnought subscribed by the people of New South Wales came other princely offers. A party of gentlemen were entertaining the departing Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, at a private dinner at the Union Club, when Mr A. F. Dangar, of Singdeton, speaking to the health of their distinguished guest, referred to the Dreadnought proposal. "If the Commonwealth will give the battleship," he said, "I will give £IO,OOO towards the cost," and amid the cheers with which the announcement was greeted two voices were heard in chorus saying: "And so will I." "Who said that?" asked Mr Dangar quickly. "I, for one," said Mr Walter Hall, the well-known Mount Morgan capitalist. "I'm the other," eajerly declared Mr W. F. Buchanan, of Killarney, Narrabui. And again the party of clubmen cheered when they had time to realise what the generosity of these three gentlemen meant. Thirty thousand pounds had been freely—even eagerly —given in less time than it takes to write the record. In less than four hours £35,000 had oeen made available in Sydney towards furryahing the practical proof of Australia's patriotism and the Empire's unity.