SHIPS ILLUMINATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 20 August 1925, Page 10

SHIPS ILLUMINATED.

FINE EFFECT ON THE HARBOUR TO-NIGHT'S DISPLAY. Although the unfortunate change in the weather will rob the illumination of the ships of the Fleet now in Auckland harbour of some of its effect, the result cannot help but be most striking. People who remember the wonderful spectacle of 1908 will not need to be told how impressive a whole line of ships can be when their hulls, funnels and masts are outlined in electric light. There, are only eight battleships in port to-day, as against sixteen in 11)08, but they "have such powerful electric equipment that we may expect something very line indeed. In addition to the outlining of the ships' lines in light, it is intended to give a display with the searchlights. The ships will switch on their illuminations at eight o'clock and will remain lighted until eleven p.m. Not the least effective part of the display is to see the ships all burst into light at the one moment, and people ashore should be on the watch a few minutes before eight o'clock in order that they will not miss the psychological moment. DOG THAT RACED A TRAIN. NOW A MASCOT OX WARSHIP. An amusing incident occurred the other day when a party of 500 American Jaekies were about to start on their journey to Rotorua. The central figure of the occurrence was a dog, and he is going to be the reminder for many a laugh among our visitors when New Zealand is left behind them. While the train was waiting at the station the men were attracted by the dog, which gratefully responded to their friendly overtures, and was quite willing to become an extra passenger at the invitation of some of the sailors. Regulations, however, are . rigid, and the guard was obliged to veto the proposal. But the dog evidently got a "hunch" about the situation, and cocking big head knowingly, wagged his tail and cheerfully rested on his haunches The whistle blew and off went the train, and the dog, allowing it a reasonable handicap, trotted off in pursuit. The Americans thought they had seen the last'of bowwow, but then they didn't .know about the Remuera hill. Slowly and more slowly worked the driving rod of the panting engine as it hauled the 500 Jaekies up hill. The load was beginning to tell, and the dog, running light and with a good lope, soon drew up alongside and barked greetings to his highly tickled friends on board. The chance was to good a one to be missed, and one of the sailors, hopping overboard, landed doggie triumphantly on a car, and the extra passenger made the journey to Rotorua without further trouble from authority. He was jealously guarded during the stay at the thermal township and returned with his friends to Auckland. It is not many dogs which can count among their scalps the beating of a train, and he has now been elevated to the rank of a mascot on the battleship that captured him.