H.M.S. RENOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 10

H.M.S. RENOWN.

INVADED BY VISITORS.

15,000 DURING WEEK-END,

LARGE, ORDERLY CROWDS. Over fifteen thousand Aucklanders visited H.M.s. Renown at the Prince's wharf during the week-end, and again to-day the battle-cruiser was invaded by the public. Despite the continuous rain a crowd of nearly five thousand filed up the gangways as soon as the ship was thrown open for inspection 011 Saturday afternoon. Once on board the crowds seemed to melt completely away, disappearing through steel doors and down companion-ways. To the onlooker the manner in which the battleship absorbed the thousands of visitors was an excellent indication of her size. With the exception of the Duke's apartments and the private cabins, the Renown was explored from stem to stern, and it was a well-satisfied crowd that filed shorewards at the close of the afternoon.

Yesterday, when the weather was in much better humour, over ten thousand people formed up in two long queues extending some distance along Queen Street, eager to be on board as- soon as the ship was ready for the invasion. As on Saturday, the crowds needed but little restraining, although the services of the gatekeepers and police were necessary to guide the throngs through the wharf gates. The only accident of the afternoon was of a minor nature, a visitor falling heavily when walking aboard. He was attended by one of the ship's medical officers. A number of the visitors were provided with afternoon tea in the mess-rooms. "I found that everyone I showed over the ship displayed a genuine interest and was anxious to hear anything I had to tell of the ship and the life on board," remarked one member of the battleship's company this morning. "Occasionally we get visitors who take little interest, and some even want to argue with us," he added. Asked whether the visitors had been particularly interested in any one part of the warship, he said that naturally everyone had been anxious to see the Royal cabins, but as these came under the heading of "strictly private" the visitors had had to conteut themselves with a peep through the portholes. Members of the Navy League and some six hundred school children inspected the battleship this morning, and the public took possession this afternoon. The warship will be open to the public again to-morrow, and on Wednesday afternoon a children's party will be given on board by the ship's officers.