NEW ZEALAND'S ARRIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S ARRIVAL.

RECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS. ,Hy Telegraph.--Special t«J -Star.") WKLLIStJTOX, ihU day. ■VVellinaton'ii welcome to the. N«v Zeatand oomplete and wf™"^ d.-i>ite the cokrtu of half-heartedno.v* given by tho Mayors refusal u> declare a iiolidav on the day of arrival lh* detUion '™ prohably <lue n«t only to , the ,«ndition of the cay's finance, but to the rownt serioiw diaairreement over tho j Armistice Day - , Irolidjiy-. with a portion lof the I'ouncii stuff. iiasii«t« men t«>ok I tho holiday qucetion into their own ■luund.-s. AH ivurehoiwee cl.wed till 2 i p.m.. wiion the ollicial receptbon was (•oiMihtdnl. while most of the larj;e reUiil UoiL-rf-d d.«e.l fur the full day. j At tilra N«vv Zealand Club luncjitxin I yesterday in honour of Mr. Maescy and Sir .loeeph Ward both leaders spoke of the Kmpirc'j obligntions to the British Navy. Mr. MoA-'.v declared tlutt but for "the Navy we would be tvnv und»r (rt-niuui domination. ft>r it held the position till the r-trongth of the Allies grew and America came in at the psychological moment. Sir Joseph Ward said tluit without Kimland'.s transport MsxviiM and the si>iiit of her |ieuple and tlve BritUh Navy the war could not have been carried on. l.t did not M'Ctn much to reafee now ihat j all was over and the Genmtn fleet vv.ls at the bottom of the sea at Scapa Flow what the Uritish Skvy iliad done, but t.he IJriLish Navy had sent tin- derma n Fleet into t;h«- Kiel tanal and Uept it there, ajid in helping to <lo thut H.M.s. NfJW //O-iland had done splendid, work. Tim New Zealand was the battlealiip which sank the (.V.rman cruiser Blucher. ( at ilutlaud. On tlw testimony of Admiral j HjiUey. she was brouii.'tit into the line after t.h<- gi-.ccn Mary and IlldcfatiglUile hud gone to the bottom. She tired 4ti!) sl;>ts at the enemy, or more t.han any ■other ship lired that day. She was only touched uiiee, and a Little piece of her ebeel armajiiejit fell t<> her deck. "It is," continued sir Joseph Ward, "something s\e can appreciate that «ur own sliip, us part of 'the grand old Briti-h Navy, came out with llyLujr eoloure when she w<.;it to lijjht for the defence of the Kmpire. (Applause). lam to know that 111 honour of her arrival a general holiday Jias been proclaimed. Loud applause followed, during which Mr. Ma-ssey eorrccted the s]>«iker. priviitel,\ e\p!-i.inin- that it was a public service holiday. Much laughter greeted I tihis moililication, Sir .l.»cph Want ex|pljiinin« that the (iorornment was set- [ linji a line example, as it always did. l"nde.r the circiunstance-s he would'app«il to the l.ijr .soft hrartwl Mayor bo ask Everybody to Io.U up „„ Wednesday in honour of their ship and J,ord .lellicoe, who »-.i.; in comiiuuid at Jutland, (Applau-.e.