THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 145, 18 June 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

........ . ■_.__ 'V.^.:.-szst-.r^s;| THE PREMIER ( ENTHUSIASTIC . ARRANGEMENTS EULOGISED. ADJOURNING PARLIAMENT, j Intervieewd by" a'; "Star" . representative at Te Awamutu * this y morning .-the j Premier, Sir ' Joseph Ward, expressed' himself as very highly pleased with the arrangements which are being' made iiii'i connection with the visit of the Amen-v can fleet to Auckland' on August 9th. The programme drawn up by the Government Commissioners' and 'the citizens of Auckland commends itself J to Sir Joseph as a thoroughly comprehensive one. 'The fact that 11,000 men, apart from- the officers, have to be entertained in the , comparatively short period of six days," says Sir Joseph, "necessitates careful organisation' in order that there may be no confusion and trouble, and that the form of entertainment may be complete. So far, there is nothing lacking in tne preparations, which would permit of any such difficulty arising."

"The idea of the various boroughs in the Dominion sending flags of welcome," continued the Premier, "is one I am glad to see is being generally taken up. ..The Mayor, Mr Arthur Myers, has agreed to allow these flags to be displayed across Queen-street. The suggestion, is receiving very favourable consideration from the municipal bodies- throughout New Zealand, and I have suggested that the flags should be white, of a uniform size, ten feet long, by five feet deep, with the words of welcome from the various boroughs in letters fifteen inches deep. This proposal has already been approved by many of the corporative bodies, As there will be a number of British ensigns and American stars and stripes displayed, these flags, with their messages of welcome, when intermingled with the many colours, will combine to make a very effective and pleasing show"- 3 "Furthermore," added ' Sir Joseph, '1 have already received, replies from members of both branches of, the .Legislature, intimating that they intend being in Auckland on the occasion of the. American fleet's visit. Both Houses will be asked to adjourn, and it is proposed to leave Wellington on August 7th,-, by a special - train, in which members will travel over the Main Trunk line. The Public Works Department, it is hoped, will make a temporary connection by that date, so that a train may slowly steam over the whole of that part >1 the line not yet out.of. the hands of the engineers, and make, the complete overland railway journey from Wellington to Auckland. . If the connection is not complete, it is.at least certain that the gap between the railheads will be very much reduced. There were fears that the Makatote viaduct would not be finished, but I am assured that unless the unforeseen- happens, .this .part of tin wOrk-will be finished .within three, weeks. "I .would like to express my appreciation of the work done by Messrs. Hamer and Donne, the Premier concluded, "and I have every confidence that with the many advantages which Auckland possesses, and the completion of the arrangements by the Government Commissioners and the citizens, it is assured that the visit will be a memorable one, not only to- the Americans, but to the people of the Dominion, who have the opportunity of welcoming the Great White'Fleet'to <New Zealand waters.. Another meeting of the executive com-* mittee was held this morning, when business was confined ta completing the programme for presentation to ' the general committee to-morrow afternoon: The Mayor of Grey Lynn has telegraphed to the Prime Minister, intimating that the Council has acceded to the request iur a "welcome" flag. MILITARY REVIEW. Mr. T. E. Donne, the Government Commissioner, yesterday received a telegram l from air. namer, Who has been conferring with the Defence Council at Wellington, ,to the effect that 2000 men of the , Volunteer, permanent and cadet forces; will' take part in the military review. ITINERARY OF THE CRUISE. The last of the Atlantic fleet, now scattered along the coast of California, will reach San Francisco not later than I July 3 to grace a Glorious Fourth before | sailing for Hawaii. The plan now is to send the Atlantic fleet out of San Francisco harbour.July 7 to complete the round-the-world cruise. From San Francisco they -will make a 2100-mile run to Honolulu, covering'the distance in nine days, and arriving July 16. Seven days will be spent at Honolulu, ana tue officers and crews of the battleships will be-elaborately!entertain-ed. Then the warships will up anchor and begin their 3850-mile cruise southward to Auckland,' New Zealand, where they are due to arrive August 9. At Auckland six days will be spent in festivities, the fleet sailing from that port on August 15 and making a five-day run of 1284 miles to Sydney, where August 20 is the scheduled date of its arrival.. Seven days of gaiety, and then the battleships -will hurry on—a" three days' cruise of 575 miles—to Melbourne, where they will drop anchor on August 29. A week of entertainments will intervene before the ships sail on to Albany, a distance of 1350 miles.and a six days' cruise. The fleet will arrive ,at Albany September 11 and will leave September I"After spending nearly six weeks' enjoying the hospitality of the people of Australia, the battleships will turn northward and take two weeks' sailing to the Philippines, 2300 ' miles away. Nine days will be spent "at the''islands, filling coal bunkers and making necessary repairs, and then the ships will move on to Yokohama, 1750 miles distant. The fleet will reach the Japanese port October 17, after taking seven days to make the cruise. Leaving Yokohama •at the end of a week's round of festivi- j ties and entertainments, the fleet' will divide, the first squadron returning to Manila, while the second squadron makes j a five-day run to Amoy, 666 miles away. | The second squadron .will spend six days at that port, leaving on Novembef 4 and arriving again at Manila November 7.

The itinerary for the remainder of the cruise is still unsettled, but it will probably include calls at the principal Mediterranean ports before anchors are cast in home waters on the Atlantic on February 22 next.

THB QUEEN-STREET ARCH.

The arch to be erected at the entrance to the City will stretch across Queen-street' half-way between Quay street and Customs-street. It will consist of an arch flanked *y two towers, each over 50ft. high. The arch will have a single span of about 60ft., and will be

! about - half- as high ■'• from the"" street, 1 Electric lighting! will play an important •part in the scheme of. decoration, which j otherwisisCwill be carried; out in native greenery. . Flags, 'particularly the Brii tish and American, will also be used with fine electric lighting effect. As the visitors come up the wharf they will ;be confronted by a large "'Welcome'';,-il-jlumination in,electric- light, and on the :other "side will be "K_a : Ora"." r C C C -Roth . arches have been designed, by the- City-Engineer (Mr.vW; E.y.Bush), ithe second (at .the Military Hall).h'avihg .been already described in the "Star." THE; RACE ■"- r '['', The Mayor ( Mr. A- Mi- Myers), again communicated with Sir George Clifford, chairman of the New Zealand Racing Conference yesterday afternoon on the subject of .the proposed Tace meeting at Ellersiie, but up to : 3 p.m. ; to-_ay, no'! reply had been received. C

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATIONS IN AUCKLAND. , C~

The arrangements for the reception to be accorded to the American fleet are being rapidly pushed 'on. It ,is-pro-posed; in deference to the wishes of Newton shopkeepers, to have, the: whole of Queen-street, from the wharf- to -Karan-gahape-rcad, decorat-d. and illuminated, Bands will be stationed in Karanga-hape-road, as well" asviri ,Que«i-s'treet, and it is expected that' the business people in both places will co-operate in the festivities, and thus prevent a congestion of traffic in the heart.of the city. Electric illuminations are to be used on the arch in Lower Queen-street, opposite the Railway Station, and' gas illuminations on the one in • Wellesleystreet East, near the Drill. Hall.

Telegrams from Mr. Homer to Mr. Donne, state that the Government intend to forward to Auckland 2,120 flags, 2,137 electric lamps, and the electrical equipment used on the Public Buildings in Wellington, on the. evening of Dominion Day last year. Included in this material is a large, map of New Zealand picked out in electric lights. It is intended to illuminate the Auckland Government Buildings, . including,, the Pest' Office, the arrangements being under the supervision of- -Mr. Eiechel (Government Electrician).

the Officers of the fleet,

A GENTLEMANLY LOT.Captain 'Kennedy r (master of the steamer Bawh Arro'ssan), writing from Saigon to friends in' Sydney, states that he had arrived there after having coaled the American Fleet in Lower Galifor; nia. The captain says that he had never met a more gentlemanly lot "of; men, from the Admiral down 'to thebluejackets. Most of the • principal oftV cers are men of independent means, and •while in California entertained ly, assisting very largely in popularising the navy on that side of the United States. ' Continuing, Captain Kennedy says:. "We were very sorry to part company, as they could not do enough for us. There is no. doubt about it they will be popular in Australia. "We -had 7,C00 tons of coal on board for the Fleet, which was discharged-by the..men from the ships in 4. days."

FLAG FROM DANNEVIRKE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' r. Notwithstanding' the - - fact that the Borough Council has- refused to "'defray the cost of a flag to send to Auckland on the occasion of the American fleet's visit, a flag will be sent. The. "Daily Press" has opened a subscription list, and the matter is being warmly taken up. The school children, who were appropriately addressed by Dr McKay yesterday, are bringing in contributions, i ■