SONS OF THE SEA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2246, 18 July 1908, Page 1

SONS OF THE SEA.

COLONIAL NAVALS AT HOME. The following is taken from a Flymouth paper dated May 30: The finer Ornrali, which readied Plymouth yesterday afternoon, had on board 33 naval ratings from Australia and New Zealand, under the charge of Lieut. A. F. Grain, ’the men, who embarked at Sydney on April 14th, have come to England for a three years’ course of training to.cpialify. for higher iioii-subsraiiiive ratings. During tho voyage the conduct. of the men was exemplary, and they have been kept in fit condition' by plenty of work on deck. Broadshouldered and deep-chested,- they are all fine specimens of manhood. \ The contingent was made up of two engino-room artificers, threo leading seamen, 14 able seamen, one signalman, one leading stoker, and nine stokers. They wore the uniform of petty officers and men in the ltoyal Navy, and on each cap ribbon was tho name of one of the four British ships—Pyramus, Challenger, Pioneer, or Psyche. Indeed, they were in all respects in appearance, a typical party of British naval seamen. By a coincidence the/ had just formed up in the Dockyard when a couple of submarines—our latest examples of fighting machines —passed up the Hamoaze, and were watched with keen interest by the new arrivals.

Shortly after four o’clock, the Coin-mander-in-Cliief arrived in his steam barge from Mount Wise/and, accompanied by Flag-Commander W. M. Ellertou and Flag-Lieut. H. E. D. Willoughby, proceeded to inspect the party. As Admiral Fawkes was until recently Commander-in-Chief of the Australia- station, it was peculiarly appropriate that he should be the first officer of high rank to welcome to the Mother country theso. lowerdeck representatives of the Colonial Navy. After-exchanging a few words with Liout. Grant, ; the Commander-in-Chief inspected the ranks, and spoke individually to each of the petty officers ancl most of the men. The inspection 'concluded,, the order was given to “form fours,” and Admiral Fawkes briefly addressed the party, extending to them a cordial welcome. The ceremony lasted only a few minutes, and the colonials were iftcrwards marched to the It.N. Barracks. They remain there until today, when they will proceed by rail to'Portsmouth to qualify. Amongst the New .Zealanders is Mr F. V. Malcolm, a son of Mr F. S. Malcolm of this town. Writing to liis parents just after arrival in Eng--land, he states that lie is about to commence training for torpedo work and will also undergo a course for a diver.