THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

AUCKLAND RECEPTION. The Government Commissioners (Messrs. T. E. Donne and T. H. Hamcr) havo nearly completed the decorations of tho Government Inquiry Bureau, which is being established' for the benefit of sailors in the Northern S.S. Company's buildings in Quay-street. This bureau will be in charge of Mr Rudd, of the Postal Department, and another gentleman, who arc acting for tho Government Commissioners. In connection with the Inquiry BuTeau. Mr C. Wallnutt, officer in charge of the Government Tourist Bureau in Customsstreet West, explained to a "Star" representative this morning that tho Tourist Bureau would remain open as usual for the transaction of business during fleet week, as well as tho Quay-street office. HOTEL SERVANTS' HOLIDAYS. At the request of several of tho leading hotelkeepcrs in Auckland, the Government Commissioners telegraphed to the Labour Department, asking whether provision could bo made for those hotel servants who should desire to work the whole of fleet week, without taking the statutory half-holiday, on the understanding that their employers would pay full overtime. This morning, a reply was received, stating that tlio minister directs that the law must be observed in the holiday, and that all assistants must havo a half-holiday from 2 p.m. on one day in the week. The writers also stated that there is no power to interfere or vary the law in this respect. WELCOME FLAGS. Something out of the ordinary in "welcome" banners has reached the Government Commissioners from Invercargill. This is really a splenrl'd piece of bunting. 30 feet long, and 7 feet wide, and. as Mr Donne remarks, "will cover half the street." One side is red, with white letters, and the other blue, with white letters, Tho whole is plr.borately fringed wih heavy gold braid. From Croon Tslaml comes another of | rather original design. The bunting • is of green and orange stripes, with red i letters crossing it. Some AS of tho total of 70 vroleomo flu-. >.iv- »<-,.,. .•.... Vt»n4,