H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 101, 29 April 1913, Page 7

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

(Continued from page 5.)

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

BIG GATHERING AT TOWN <, HAIL. SOME STIB.RIHG SPEECHES. There was a brilliant gathering at the Town Hall this afternoon, when Captain Hateey and his officers were welcomed by the Mayor and Councillors. Those present included the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. H. D. Bell), and iiany other prominent people. "To-day," said the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), in opening his address, "marks a great occasion and a really historic event. My only regret is that our Town Hall, although it holds 3,000 people, is much too small to contain all the citizens who would like to be here. This afternoon Auckland has shut up shop, and 100,000 people are celebrating in happy mood the arrival of H.M.'s. New Zealand, with Captain Halsey and his gallant men. We rejoice to-day because we see in our port the great warship which is the symbol and embodiment of that spirit of love and loyalty which animated the Dominion three years ago, when it tendered ite gift to the Motherland. All honoar to Sir Joseph Ward, whose brail conceived the idea! (Applause.) Equal honour to Mr. Maesey and his frielde, then in Opposition, who backed the idea from the first, and whose publ-ic-tspjrited support made the thing possible xcTthout party conflict. That great incident is creditable to all parties, because, it proves tha.t in this country all parties will always :nk party differences, and combine to defend our c«nmon Empire, wherever and whenever its safety may be attacked."' (Renewed applause.) "Now that the vessel lies safely in our port," continued the Mayor, "what lesson does, she teach us? Surely, that the Empire is one—that our safety, our prosperity, our very existence as a British community, depends on Britain's supremacy oh the high eeas. Take from us the protection of England's navy, and who can tell what will happen? What would there be to prevent any finst-class power possessing us? We must stand or fall together, we of the sister nations and the old Motherland. Our last man, our last shilling, our last gun. must go to the ever-shifting danger point, wherever for the time being it may be. Only in that way lies safety." Continuing, the Mayor said that the British Admiralty, in sending the New Zealand out to visit all our ports, had shown wise sta-tesmarAhip. Their action proved, first that the Lords of the Admiralty had appreciated Xew Zealand's spirit of devotion, and. again, it drove home to them and their children the value of hfre British connection. It enforced the lesson of naval unity. It was pood to know t'Tiat the children were *" see the ship. The old pioneer stock of Xpw Zealand was fast departing. Their *nns and daughters were bound to the Empire, because they had learned from thrir forbears to love and revere the Old Land. But what was there to bind the younger generation to Great Britain lmloe* it was ocesjskwe such as tihese? V.'hnJ schoolboy, seeing that noble ship, would not turn to 'his Nelson and the glorious history of the British Navy With a new and keener appetite. They TToTjld. in hie opinion, realise as never before the great heritage of the sea for which their father's fought and won. ami which it was theirs now to hold and keep. He trusted that every schoolboy would see the ship. THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE. . "This morning," added the- Mayor, "I received from a gentleman a letter declining to attend this meeting because h# thought this ship symbolised war, "which he detested. Surely, quite a wrong view? To my mind, this ship Epells, not for war, but for peace. The •New Zealand is our little sacrifice to help ensure the peace of the world. A man liitist be blind to the facts of cutrent history who would, now sit down and do nothing. As Six John French well sa-id last week: 'The problem for English' statesmen is not so much the invasion of Great Britain, as.the almost daily shifting danger point.' Witih the nations around ue armed' to the teeth, Wrat else can we do bnt itc in a position to defend oirrselvee? Let us prepare for war; in _fcbai way oiily can we ensure peace. The. millennium is not, yet at hand, and if- we depend on Hague Conferences we "will indeed be slipped up. Applause.) *TVe are deliglrted to see Capt. Halsey and his officers. T rather feel for the gaOant captain, who is condemned nowadays (I hope through no fault of hie own) to make more speeches tha.n even a politician at electron time. It must he very different from the quarterdeck. In another way, I also feel some eympatby for bis officers. They axe to be our gueste for a fortnight, and when I look at the programme of festivities that tboy mnst go through. I tremble for their TieaftJi at thr end of their sojourn here. If they survive them, then thpy are good men and tnie, aiid "We need have no feaTs ipr the safety of the British EmpiTe." (Laughter.) The Mayor, in conclusion, said that every citizen in Auckland wmild join with hhn in extending the glad hand of welcome to the splendid ship and her gallant crew. (Applause.) The Prrroc Minister also spoke and Captain Halsey was making his reply is the "Star" went to press.

FARE"WE*L*t TO GISBORNE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, this day. H.Ms. New Zealand left for Auckland at i p.m. yesterday. Captain Halsey replied hi very' cordial terms to a -Maori address of welcome, stating that the great Treaty which joins the Maori race to the British stands as a great asset to the Empire. The Maoris danced three nakas, the first representing "Defiance," the second welcoming the New Zealand to her own waters, a.nd the third a haka, of victory. Two young Maori girls laid at Captain Holsey's feet beautiful kiwi and kereru mats, and an ancient mere which had been through many Maori battles-. An adjournment was then made to the captain's cabin, where the presentation of a Maori mat was made to Priiice George of Battenburg. The prince implied, staging that it would please his mends .at Home to know be had been feus honoured by the natives of New Zealand. Th* -pimentaiion of an ad•fress was-later made to Captain Halsey fij" tie Overseas Club. iEespoirffing, Captain Halsey remarked "thai tbe dub was *Jing great Imperial work, a^"* l ne il«waj»inade it a point"-to keep an touch •ifii iis members iß&erever ie "vma.