NAVY V. ARMY FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14666, 15 May 1913, Page 7

NAVY V. ARMY FOOTBALL.

Yesterday was a glorious 'lay—clear, calm, cool, and sunny. The Port looked like a still land-locked lake, its surface burnished silver, tho hills clean cut against tho skyline. They wero ideal conditions for the chief event — children's day on the New Zealand. All day long they poured down to Lyttclton by trains, admirably handled by tin? Department, marched to tho wharves, and formed up to tho left of the barrier, marching round to tho further end, and forming up there till Commander Grace gave tho signal to let a section of the tide flow up the gangway. Then they wero "personally conducted" for their appointed hour round the ship, and as the hour completed, marched off again by the after gangway and down the exit side- of the barrier to tho station. Si?: thousand paper bags of buns and cakes and biscuits were provided at the refreshment shed, as well as hot cocoa and tea and coffee. Several schools brought their own refreshments; others wore only a short time- at the Port, and didn't need any. Thanks to tho assiduous ca.ro of all—teachers, committee, and trainmen —concerned, and the tireless activity and patience of Commander Grace and his assistants, there was not a single mishap. Tho one criticism is that some of tho children taken aboard wero too young. Littlo tots cannot get about such a big ship, and had to bo lifted up and down ladders and the like, whilo they blocked tho progress of tho others. And as each school had only one hour, this blocking meant that those who could understand saw just so much less as tho period of tho delay caused by those too young to understand. Little tots could see the ship quito well from the wharf, or if taken on board at. all, should not bo further than the quarterdeck. Tho big party of men who were the guests of tho people of Ashburton had a very enjoyablo outing. Tho ship's Rugby team put up a good fight against tho Territorials, at Lancaster Park, but had to succumb to a strong fifteen. In tho evening the officers were tho guests of the Christchurch Club at a dance. To-day there will bo tho sports o,n tho Metropolitan Trotting Club's ground, and tho ship will be open to the public.

THE ASPECT OF LYTTELTON

Never ia tho liistory of Lyttelton has such a sight been witnessed as that which was presented on the "man-0- ,- ---yvsir" jetty. Tho great battle-cruiser, central and imposing figure of the port, was made tho object of attack by battalions of school childiren. At ( J. 30 a.m. a squadron of nearly 1000 formed up in divisions inside the barricade under the charge of their masters, mistresses and teacners. Organisation was apparent everywhere, and there was not the slightest confusion. A buzz of excited conversation from the hundreds of bright-eyed youngsters roso along the wharf while the children were being got into order to advance. Punctually at the appointed hour the first squads went up the gangways. The ship's officers were ready with a number of bluejackets and marines who had been told off to take charge of the numerous parties of teachers and children, and show them everything there was to be seen. Quarterdeck, amidship-deck, superstructures and bridges, lower decks and gun-turrets, were carried by storm; but they were exceptionally orderly and wcif-behaved youngsters, especially the hundreds of little girls. _ They swarmed everywhere, drinking in the details of the great ship. The first companies were followed by others as fast as they could bo brought ia by train, marshalled on the wharf, and conducted through the ship.

AN EARLY START

Tho first batch. a thousand children from Waltham and Christchurch East, boarded the vessel and commenced their inspection under capable control and guidance. On tho deck officers met thu youthful visitors anil started them off on their round of inspection. So far as possible a member of the ship's complement was despatched with each unit, but -the demands made in this direction were_ so great that another system of stationing men at each point of interest had to be adopted. This plan "worked most excellently, and gave the children the greatest possible amount of instruction in tho shortest possible space of time. After their inspection the battalions of children were marched off at the after end of the vessel and given light refreshments in tho port "before being returned to the city by special train.

SIGHTS ON BOARD

Tho sight of the children on board enjoying themselves to the full was stimulating. Their curiosity was inexhaustible, and their wonderment almost beyond the bounds of expression. Both litt-lo boys and little girls were vastly taken with the huge guvs and pried about around the turrets and peeped down tho muzzles as far as possible with tho greatest of interest. And with tho smaller guns, w'.ien a Jack Tar allowed them to elevr.to and slew the gun with the hand gear their joy was easily manifest. Down below decks the youngsters plunged and rnmbled into every penetrable corner. Plainly it wi'.s tlu opportunity of a lifetime, ;uul they meant to make the most of it- The little girls were as keen as the little boys, and, of course, were deeply concerned with the hugj cooking quarters and tho neat and natty domestic arrangements of the bluejackets.

ENTHUSIASM AND COURTESY

On every side the greatest en-'liu<iu-.ni nnd courtesy prevailed—cti'.husnfin on the part of ihu children, tofu-hors ami '•oiLimtU'orr.cn, and courtc<y on tho siae of tris sailors and :ithcers concenud in the duties of exposition and jiui lance. The enthusiasm of thj youngst'.Ts cannot fail to iv.ivo tho very best of effects in the fntu;v.

Wine they learnt, what they saw, what they heard will long remain with them Indeed, it no single adult saw the ship and children alone were concerned in her stay, yet tho visit would bo of the greatest benefit, for tho seeds of Imperialism and Empire enthusiasm sown in tho minds of tnese children will undeniably bear fruit in the hiturc.

Tho sailors interested tho children almost as much as tho vessel. Those of them who had not gone away to the Ashburton sports wero engaged about the ship in various activities—in painting up her sides, in attending to tho Jocks, .n rearranging tarpaulins—and upon all theso works the children gazed with interest. Jack Tar had on the oldest of Ins old clothes. a:id was in work-a-day humour, with bare feet, dirty hands, a cheery face, and a kindly word for the youngsters.

NEW EXPERIENCES

None of theso children had ever seen such a mighty warship before. Somo had seen no warship. Somo no ship at all, and a few had never seen tho sea—in South Africa many thousands saw the sea for the first time when they saw tho New Zealand. These wero the veldt children. Our veldt children are differently situated, but still there wero little peoplo from tho country yesterday whoso homes aro bordered by the plains, and who had never before looked on tho sea. With' a still smaller number it was a first experience of train travel, and a few had not previously seen a tram.. To many tho tunnel was a quite new and somewhat awesome experience, and the sight of the battleship, towering above the other vessels at the wharves, was the climax. They wero all eagorness. and, "Oh. look at this," could bo heard exclaimed in every key in all parts of the ship, while hero and thero a little chap would beckon excitedly to a companion and bid him "come here quick," as if tho big gun or the galley, or the dynamo might vanish before his school mate could get to it. Up into all manner of places, and down wherever a companion-way-led tho children went, and when their hour was up they left reluctantly with many a backward glance of longing for more. "It,was great, but wo had to go away so soon," was how one little chap summed up the goneral sentiment; but thero wero thousands waiting their turn, so the hour had to be adhered to.

SCHOOLS AND THEIR NUMBERS

The number of children who -went on board was 9000, and including the parents and teachers 10,714, young and old, passed up tho gangways. The greater portion of tho children were from schools in and about Christchiirch, namely, Waltham, Christclmrch East, Aldington, Somorfield, Christchurch West, "Richmond. Sydenham, St. Albans, Bromley, Breeze's road , , Cashmere, Hnlswell, Harewood, Marshland, New Brighton, Burwoocl, Sumner, Redcliffs, Spreydon, Wharenui, Elmwood, Heathcote i Linwood North, Girls' High School, Normal, Opawa, Woolston, Boys' High School, School of Art, Digby's, St. Michael's, Roman Catholic schools, St. Matthew's, Technical College. It was originally intended that the visit yesterday should be confinod to the pupils of jtheso schools, but a party of 2U7 country school children, with about 100 parents and teachers, ■were added to the number. These visitors came from the schools north of Waipara on the Cheviot railway, and this was the only day on which they could go to Lyttelton and return to their homes in one day. .Captain Halsey kindly agreed with the altered arrangements, and the country children inspected tho vessel botween 11 and 12 o'clock in tho morning. They were a specially polite lot of Tittle people, well trained and. handled, and their teachers brought them tip to visit the city after returning from the jwrt, and gave them a comfortable tea in town before entraining for home.

HANDLING THE CROWDS

Great credit must be given to all concerned. The Railway Department had made every preparation for. coping with the situation, and ran a double service throughout the day. To provido sufficient accommodation, fortynine extra carriages had been borrowed from southern centres —thirty-four from I>unedin and/fifteen from invercargill—and these,' combined with the stock available locally, enabled all demands to be fully met. The average train was eighteen carriagce. Tne arrangements made by the District Traffic Manager worked out excellently, and the supervision exercised by Mr J. P. Manson, stationmaster at Ijytteiton, could not have been improved upon. A word of praise is also due to Captain Thorpe (the harbourmaster) and the other Harbour Board officials for their assistance to tho marshal, Mr Just, in dealing with the children on the wharf, while? the police rendered valuable help. M- Hislon (Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs) did excellent work in general oversight, and what the New Zealanus officers and men did we have already noted.

MORE CHILDREN TO-DAY

Another party of 000 country school | children from Springfield and neigh- ■ bourfng schools will visit tho ship this morning. They will go on board at 10 o'clock, and will leave before midday. ...-•«'•«•**

"THE BEST-CONDUCTED CROWD. ,,

Speaking to our representative after the decks had beon cleared of youthful visitors. Commander Grace said that the conduct of the children was very good; in fact, they were "the bestconducted crowd of children that had inspected the vessel." The organisation on the wharf was very Rood, and the parents and teachers who accompanied the children contributed towards th's. Commander Grace mentioned that somo complaints had been made that many of the children were not personally conducted over the vessel, but all tbo men available were apportioned to this duty, and as the number available was only 120, they could not attend to everyone who in-sp-cted the vessel. It was also complained, he said, that the time allowed each bat«h of children on board was too sliort, but as were so many children t<> «■•"> *'•-> ---<•-' ---V "—*

As it was, the children spent from three-quarters of an hour to an hour and a half on board, .is circumstances decided.

AT WELLINGTON ANT> AUCKLAND

Comparing the day with "Children's Day" in Wellington and Auckland, Commander Grace said that everything passed much more smoothly hen 1 . This was due in a great measure to tho convenience afforded by the New Zealand being alongside the wharf, whereas in Wellington and Auckland tho children had to go out to the vessel in ferry boats. This meant that the different groups could not be separated, wlrle hero they wore kept under bettor control. "The day passed better than anywhere rise. , ' added Commander Grace. "I only know of one child who lost her way, while sometimes boys and girls did not join up with their party."

THE UNDER-SECRETARY'S EXPERIENCE.

Mr Hislop said that ho was very pleased with the way tho arrangements had boon carried out. Ho praised the good work of all those concerned in tho management of the children, and said that thanks wore due to Commander Grace and his officers for tho courtesy they extended to all their juvenile visitors.