THE INCOMING SPECTACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 7

THE INCOMING SPECTACLE.

« RIPPLING WATERS " WELCOME.

THE CIRCLING SEAPLANES.

The Waitemata harbour justified its name. "ripplinjr water,"' from the moment the California arrived outside the Ranjjitoto beacon. Till then it had been a grey day of the fine variety, hut witli the arrival of the flee.t the sun came out from the mist clouds, and the harbour crisped and rippled under a breeze so light as to raise no more than a ripple on the water: Xo finer weather could be wished, and from Mount Victoria and the bluffs and beaches along Itangitoto Channel, onlookers had a beautiful spectacle of the battle-lines serpentining into the channel round Rangitoto beacon, and then round Xorth Head. The latter point was reached just an iiour after picking up the pilot, and as the flagship California rounded the head at 12.50 p.m., and came into view of the city crowds, she fired her 21-gun salute, and ran up the white ensign. During the firing of the salute, and a return salute from Xorth Head battery, the California, the West Virginia, the Colorado, and the Maryland rounded the headland into full "view from the wharves, while four American seaplanes fluttered up and down the fleet line, and over the welcoming small craft.