VISIT OF THE FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 171, 13 April 1908, Page 9

VISIT OF THE FLEET.

A NATIONAL OCCASION. AUCKLAND'S ENTERTAINMENT,. . SCHEME. •... (BY TELEGKAnr—srnciAi, coriiespoxoent.)' l Auckland) April 10,: . Tho intended' visit of .tho American Fleet has aroused great interest in 'Auckland, and tlio air .is ; full of suggestions as to what forms of entertainment. should bo provided for tho Dominion's naval guests. Happily, tho view point taken "is strongly national,' thero. being, indeed, a striking lack of that parochial spirit which, had it arisen, might havo gono sorno.way towards destroying the cordiality of the Now Zealand welcomo; j It is certain that tho visit' will be made tho occasion for a carnival week in Auckland. Carnivals havo already been held by llotorua and and tho Auckland carnival, it is anticipated, will bo, Something on a large scale,' which will attract .visitors from all. parts of tho Dominion. Naturally, accommodation'will be in great demand, and already telegrams from various centres have been received at hotels and boarding-houses bookings rooms for tlio week during _ which tho American Fleet is expected to-be in the "Waitoinata' Harbour. l J robably from. 20,000 to 30,000 visitors will come here and join in tho great 'greeting.'- Excursion fares by rail and sea : are expected to bo providod. : . A TRIP TO ROTORUA. One of the suggestions finding most favpur in the city, yesterday was that the visiting officers and sailors should,, as far as possible, be'conveyed'by special, trains t-a. Rotorua _to' witness tho .greatest "show; placo" in New' Zealand,' this being a form ;of entertainment which will bo something unique to tho Americans, and a pleasant departure from tho us'ual ,ruri of banquets, balls,"civic entertainments, etc. : ' .'A big Maori - welcome in characteristic stylo'is, of course, looked upqn' as something practically certain. , • ' Immediately the definite programmo of tlio cruise' is known local committees will be at once formed,'when all suggestions and plan 3 will be thoroughly considered, and, in co-operation with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers, a full and complete programmo for the national welcome will bo drawn up. The Australian Squadron is expected to visit Auckland at that time, and is to bo hpro in readiness to escort tho American Fleet into the Hauraki Gulf and.up to-tho,anchor-ago, so that the procession up tho waterway should' form tho most imposing -spectacle over seen on the Waitemata. There is ample depth. of- water ' and accommodation- for ,an anchorage'.for tho whole fleet. One of the suggestions.being put forward is for ia.big water cal;nivaj on one night during tho fleet's visit, when all the vessels in t>ho" harbour, warships and others, should, be illuminiited, and'when there.could bo a procession of gaily-decorat'cd and illuminated pleasure craft to the accompanimcnt of gunfiring'and . ; ; ~ PARLIAMENT MAY ADJOURN. ' ,It-is..assume<i as a-.'matter.;of- course that: Parliament will adjourn during floet week," in order, that members of both rßouses - may participate'?™' tlio and it i» suggested that as tho gap,between tho rail-heads of the' Main Trunk lino will bo comparatively short, the members/of Parliament should -be conveyed in .a'.body .over tlio; railway, thus enabling our ; ,law-makers : ,as' a whole .to gain a good, idea,-,of tho country in tlio NoTtiv Islam!. ' : ;|i.- ■ •" : An " early settlers' ,''demonstration is also, •suggested/.; '. ';,. / , .. - .. v '.•■ • Questioned by a "Herald" reporter last .ovening 'regarding tho probable .duration of tha.fleet's at this port,. Mr. W. A. Prickett, American Consul-General, said ho had no means of knowing how long.it..was in--tondod to stop. at .Japanese, and 'Chinese .ports,'.and he'cpuld.riot, therefore, hazard an, that. it,.would, npt':;bo.'mOre th'iin " .. THE PROPOSED VISIT TO V. ELLIIs GTON. ■A' l'now . reason', has. been .'given -why, the American, fleet, should include Wellington m "its 'visit to New, Zealand. - In .ajetter to.-'tho. Premier, ;thp. Secretary of the Navy, League, Mry'T.' AV. Palmer, points out. a .way in which tho fleet could visit both Auckland and Wellington .without..': an, - increased; loss . of• time.". The .fleet, ho says; is made up of two squadrons," each under', a ,separate.,rear-ad-miral ; "and. if one 'squadron were. to"; coal at: Auckland and tlio- other at Wellington,.t-hcro .would bo . a gain, rather than-, a' - loss of .time effected .; on account -of i the -i greaier. speed, with which , tho coaling-of tlio 'sixteen vessels'would be! effected., Mr, Palmer informsus that..' lie has' received lott-ers from. people in .Nelson,Wangariui, Masterton, and other places urging the' League to. do its'.- best. to. - get'the' ; floet to call-at Wellington—a fact, which, shows', the greatness of, tlio interest, shown;in the,visit., A,further factor,in itho. juestioii, from ii, Navy .Leaguo' point of view,, is tlie .opportunity which a visit 'would.' give tho'League' to 'take , its 1500. boy..'memhers' to sqo the''fleet. During, the recant, visit-of;, the' Australian Squadron inspection. -by tlio boys could, not; bo arranged, becaugo the schools. wore holding holiday, and tho consequent disappointment was keenly, folt, .'