CHILDREN'S PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 7

CHILDREN'S PARTY.

HAPPY TIME ON REPULSE. ! The battle-cruiser Repulse was a gay and animated scene yesterday afternoon, and children to the number of 1318 -were entertained on board. The little griests and their guardians were taken over by ferry boat, and it took two boats to convey them to the warship. Eager and wondering little faces crowded the ferry wharf wciting to pass the barrier and see what wonders were in store, but once aboard the cruiser they were soon eagerly sampling the joys ahead. Right opposite the gangway on the ship was a hu« r e mushroom with a polished surface, upon : which the children were invited to takp I a ride by a friendly clown, who also ; gave lessons to many a small boy in I manners when they rushed the pleasure ' ahead of their sisters, and were firmly admonished that, at least in the Navy, ladies took precedence. When the chil- , dren were seated the whole thing began Ito revolve, and as it grot up speed it shot the astonished children of their i moving perch into the arms of the ofn- ; cers waiting to catch them at the ■; sides. Shouts of laughter were the rei suit, although some small faces were a rather puzzled expression at the ex--1 perience. The craiser had been turned '. into a complete nursery for the time- ' I being, as -well as an up-to-date playing field, which provided shoots, toboggans I and other splendours beloved of the little ones. On one side of the vessel a. huge square, with hanging seats like the giant wheel at Earl's Court, was hoisting the little ones towards the I sky and then bringing them down with J the impression that they were over the J water. Each seat held two, who were strapped in, and here again the Auck- ' land boy had to be reminded that at ' least in the Navy it was always "Ladies ', j First." ■ One of the great joys was a. large I switchback erected on an upper deck I with a small carriage seating a group \ which looked steady enough, but which, ' at a signal, rushed down the slope and \ up the other side with fine speed and an ; appalling noise, greatly to the delight "of those "aboard the lugger." Then ' other small visitors were, being hoisted 1 high, above the upper decks in huge , . boxes draped with flags, and came riding safely down on steel cables to get ready for the next amusement, which was a j huge shoot down which they were shot ! to be caught on landing by the ever- |' patient naval men, whom duty had ' turned into nursery attendants for the i day. The merry-go-round on the upper deck was always crowded, and the two clowns -in charge had a happy and * merry crew always aboard, lying in \ hammocks which were slung above the ! hnge capstan and made safe by torpedo- ' catching netting underneath. At a ' word the capstan besan to revolve, and : truly never in the life of childhood had 1■ it been seen before that the capstan 1i of a battleship could he pven to ! drive that rather common feature of ! the show ground, the merry-go-round, \ but the patrons hailed the innovation , with shouts of delight and their naval hosts as the most charming persona in r i the worldl ' j A haunted erotto also wr?s one of the attractions, bnt as the victims, when 5 big. came out lanshinsr and the smaller ' ones rather cheerful, it was difficult to 3 arrive at a correct opinion of its " charm. There was no doubt of the r appreciation of the next item, which j was afternoon tea spread oi the upper dock at biff tables and presided over by ". kind and thoughtful tars, who kept the r small people well supplied with -xitablps 1 after all the exertions in garapliTt? the I Treasures provided by the British 5 Navy. 1 ! Tn coTJTiPctinn with +he children's 3 ' party. the captain a"d nffiop rs desire to 3 ' fhsiTiJr the following for th»ir n«sif>+art<"»: 1 The X*>vv T>n««i<». -npr "Vr. TT. HoMie. " for ta.blp= and trestlps, the proprietor* 1 of the "Star" for 250 -varrts newsprint 3 to cover tables, and the New ' Shipping Company, per Mr. A. H. Sinel. 3 for protection nets. 5 Hnnffreds of school children thronged - on board the Hoan" this morning, and J thoroughly em'oved themselves. This k afternoon the phip is open to the public - On board the Repulse this afternoon the I'shin's company are entertaining - their I friends, just us the men of the Hood did 3 -yesterday afternoon with, so much I success.