LYTTELTON'S ELATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14665, 14 May 1913, Page 9

LYTTELTON'S ELATION.

The people of Lyttelton and .the members of the Harbour Board are greatly elated. Everywhere yesterday tiie successfifl berthing was the subject of favourable comment, and Captain Thorpe was the hero of the hour. He was naturally greatly pleased with the successful accomplishment of his task, and remarked to a reporter that the New Zealand was a splendid ship to handle. She steered perfectly, and was a much more "handy" vessel to manoeuvre than many merchant ships of less than a quarter her tonnage. Everything had worked out splendidly, and though the space available within the confined limits of the inner harbour was far less than he would havo desired, he was perfectly satisfied with the outcome. The his ship swinging in Lyttelton harbour made a splendid picture,, and the thousands of onlookers had a better view of her than has been seen in any other port. In turning in the basin sho showed her- . self from every angle and point of view. The advantages of having the ship berthed at the wharf-are inestimable. The delays and dangers of transhipping large crowds of adults and childron by watijr from shore to ship are entirely eliminated; and the berth is barely two hundred yards from the railway station. Spacious gangways provide easy and convenient communication between ship and shore'and enable the huge crowds of sightseers .to come and go without confusion. Yesterday afternoon 4938 people passed on and off.' Needless to say the ship's company regard the position with the greatest satisfaction.