BERTHING THE BATTLESHIP

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14660, 8 May 1913, Page 6

BERTHING THE BATTLESHIP

As the time for the coming of tho battleship approaches interest in her visit is intensifying throughout the province. Given fine weather it seems likely that a greater number will board tho big ship at Lyttolton tlian at nny I other of tho ports of the Dominion, and in view of this thero arc some points that wo would suggest for tho consideration of tho authorities. One of those, is the question of the Pyramus. Tho present arrangement is that tho New Zealand should berth afc the No. 8 Jetty, and tho Pyramue at No. 4, thus giving the whole basin between the two jetties to the warships. Tho Harbour Master's view was that owing to the great beam of the New Zealand there would be inconvenience in bringing a merchant ship into the space between her and No. 4 Jetty, and that it would thoroforo be desirable to have the other warship there, using the vncant berth on No. 3 Jetty opposite tho New Zealand for a merchant, ship. To divide the operations of cargo handling, etc., from the crowds visiting the battleship a stont hand rail has been constructed down the middle of the No. 8 Jetty. But wo would suggest that, unless there aro other reasons against the proposal—not apparent on tho surface—that it would be proforablo to make an exclusively man-of-war jetty rathor than an exclusively man-of-war basin- That is that the berth at No. 4 which it was proposed tho Pyrarnus should occupy be exchanged for the second berth at No. 3. Tho inconvenience of bringing merchant vessels into tho narrower space between tho battleship and No. 4 could bo overcome by tho skill and earo of tho Harbour Master and officers, and tlio change would leave the'whole of No. S Jetty to the two warships and- those visiting them. Thoro would thon be no goods trucks running to and fro on to tho one-half of No. 3, while the crowds of school children and others were crossing tho lines to reach the battleship's half, and it would be possible to handle the crowds more conveniently. One of the problems in connection with this work is to keep the people moving, and all moving in the same direction. At Cape Town, where tho chip* came alongside, the people crowded on board and massed around objects which interested them, remaining for periods which' effectually blocked others from getting aboard at all, as the stream -of sightseers was dammed. Tho other day the same thing happened with Australia's warship Melbourne at the Natal port- Thirty-five thousand people went to the wharf to get on board. Only ten thousand succeeded. They simply stood around, and formed counter-eddies of traffic which blocked . the ways aboard, and tho other 25,000 had perforce to go back without setting foot on the warship's deck. If the whole of No. 8 Jetty was givon up to tho two ships it would then bo quite practicable to send on a continuous stream through the stern gangway, keep them moving right through the various decks and out at tho forward gangway where they would be put right across through tho barriers to the Pyramus side of* tho jetty and so off tho wharf and to tho railway without meeting tho incoming stream at all. Were only one sido of the jetty available, and cargo being worked on tho other so efficient a movement of traffic could not be effected. In this connection also it should bo seen that all school children bo kept under tho immediate control of their teachers and marched in that order through the ship without being allowed to wander. And adults should likewise observe an orderly "move on" rule. If sightseers will co-operate with £he authorities in these matters they will not only ensure a much more comprehensive view of the ship for themselves but add to the comfort and convenience of others- It has to be remembered that huge as a Dreadnought is, thero is really very little room on board, and a very little confusion of traffic blocks the way.