UNITED STATES FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 173, 15 April 1908, Page 11

UNITED STATES FLEET.

•'i'i THE AUCKLAND PROGRAMME, '< PROPOSED NATIVE GATHERING. •vj (BY TBLEGKAPH.-—sVeCIATj ! CORRESPONDENT.) Auoliland, April 14. ■■'■■'fin connection with tho visit of the American fleet,' tho suggestion lias boon , made ' 1 that thoso who aro preparing tho programmo of.welcome hero should approach tho-Minis-ter, for/ Defonoo with a view, to obtaining permission for ono officer. and nine men ■ from each' Volunteer corps .irtNtho'southern districts .to travel free-by railway to Auckland to join in-tho. welcomc. . .The men, it . is pointed-out, could' easily encamp in the r Dnll Hall grounds 1 .. ■ Tho appearance, of; so '. many't different uniforms would add : greatly • to.Hho aspeot. ; ' ■ _ ■■■■< ! Tho Hon. Mahuta, who is at present in Auckland, has expressed himself-as highly ■ ■ ■ enthusiastic over the idea of welcoming the. , 'Armada. ' Ho ,agrccs .that it would only bej .:■• possiblo ,to 'transport a few .of tho visitors' • to Rotorua, and says he isthoroughly in . favour ot the, Maori people joining, with.the " pakeha : m" giving the. Americans a tremen--11 elovis ovation on their arrival iu Auckland. The question of getting the .Natives down to Auckland i and providing for, their, wants while ■■■■■: in camp is i matter, which l the chiefs would need ...to\givo'. careful, consideration; to, . arid "-. Slaliuta suggests ; that "'the various .tribes ■ should at once' bo communicated with,valid tho -importance of tlio project; laid before, tKem. . Ho further :belioves that "a Native ■ gathering .> could " bo' 'held ; iri ; Auckland 'on as-has .never, been known be-: ) ' fore, •• arid a great Maori:> -programmo pre■x .sentod,:.;wliich would- appeal, alike.,.to..city residents' andcountry; visitors, ' as; well' as ) ' those > included ,;?tne. Armada. .... , ' ' ... -that\l :am thoroughly with; they,'pakeha^' , said Mahuta,j "in the desire; .'■ to ■ gi vtf the' irafrican .'fleet a ■ great" welcome;' and;, that '-1 ' will be . only ? tdo 'glad to ''join " with„thom' to' help ; to' welcome our brothers, froin < across, the'yseavas' of : the' original owners of' -the soil.: It will be a; pleasure,, to, welcome - them,. and that pleasure will boshared by. any people." • ■ ■ A .-interest: in, Maori gatherings, speaking fn favour of a ■ - Native;,welcome,, said it. .would; be ; necessary^ fbr-'tho; Government".td'make concessions on the railway, and to'otherwise offer . such, facilities as would make it possible for the Maoris, to ■ spend'*»:• tfcelc m Auckland. The wafnors "of tho-different i tribes wouldiinake a .'fino <show,'' and the opportunity would be ■provided to: every—member ■of tho fleet to acijuarht.'-'himsolf, wjth Native; customs ; and. , enjoy J tho l Native' performances, such as f hakas,''por Native dances, -etc. ~.. .■■!■'Tho fact uiatVtho Jlaons would be unable to ,mi aquatic display bo :V , . >:piair£ /'-rfd/ gifes- : -,■ risotto," the v altferriativo /that the. • GoVernment should run special t trains from ' Auckland l 'to Mercer •or'.JsgaiTlawahia, and ■ -thus.«ija)nl«,tho visitors: to witnosj similar. . - Natiyo wgattL.io.4hat ,-wluch..-is held oniiHarcJi 17.. It would.be an.easy mat- • tor' ttof''arrjji)go: such-:sv display,: m , v. hioh ; «.(sever:rfc'tli|Oi;<iand ■ Nativesy would participate; •and fro .could be: managed in, a siftjle day 4," / '- r z> .Tho Ham" J. M.'Gowan 1 , -however, looks'-at tK© ; jni'att'eikdiffef.to that : a . •- Matin welfcomo would,: no doubt,- .interest the. ; ■ "yi sffcox s "s 'numoToiis' diffi- • culties lpltho-way also.- Americans seo.plenty, of tiatiyes 1 in' their o\vn"COuntryJ ;■-.'■■'■■; . •'':.■ "■ of, ':. : brig]s : sWal,; functions . idea of whatshould bo done, .-.v ■■.-,; . . ■ Auckland, 'April 14 .:■• Thfe:-Mayor 'has convened' a meeting of; : 24'/.'to initiate a ; programme' > for, 'of 'the Am;CTicaii;Fleet|:' and : has telegraphed to th'o \ PrdiiiieV,^'asking ■ . the iritentiohs of:the Government,in'this' : con-; ,