THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 6

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

AND THE MAIN TRUNK. AN ARGUMENT FOR EXPEDITION. (BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL'CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland,-May 3. In connection with the matter of exchange of money for tho officers and men/ of the American fleet, it is stated that the Bank of New Zealand has been regularly in, tho custom of negotiating the'exchange of the Ambri-., can dollar for British currency. It is also" understood that the Bank will be quite, equal to dealing with this matter during the. visit , of tho fleet here. On the other hand, it is not at all unlikely that during tile' fleet's stay in this part of the world the men. may ; bo.paid in British money. The Mayor of, Aucldaud states that this matter has already ' • 'been considered by the committee of recep-' tion.." Mr. Myers; said he had seen J T. Cook and Son,' and'had been informed that V that firm was prepared to make all nccessary arrangements for exchange at the most advantageous terms possible. '■ The "Herald," in the course of a leading article supporting-tho suggestion that a test match should be played in Auckland during tho fleet's visit, says"There should be no' : ' hesitation on the part of the authorities of. the New Zealand Rugby Union in making arrangements for the playing of a test, match with tho; English team in Auckland during • ■, the'visit of tho American fleet. This need.' ' not interfere with the test match to be played at Wellington, ! for a rubber.'of- three tpst .. matches has many warm advocates, and would be acceptable to enthusiasts' in the South, who would be able to witness the first match of the series. As for the Englishmen, in all probability they would gladly fall in.. - with the proposals. Apart altogether -from , ; the interest of our visitors in our national, game, -such an arrangement 'would be most, convenient and considerate to the thousands who.will then flock to Auckland." . The paper then goes on to remark And . in connection with the great visit,_ which will '; be the niost'important historic incident, since' the'entiy of the Duke arid Duchess of York, and which ■ will attract majiy thousands to > Auckland from all parts of the Dominion, we would urge the Government to make a great effort to bring the Main Trunk Railway into practical use for the' occasion. We have been officially' informed that the Makatote viaduct will be completed within four or' five weeks, and .that a,n engine'will be able to run through from Auckland to. Wellington by October. It • .could , not bo expected that a through service - connection coiild be made by August, but it ought to be possible to", effectively work a . service up to each side'"of a gap that would leave the railheads only a. short distance apart. This could be traversed • bjr vehicles, ■ or oven on ,fcot,: in a,. very : short time,!-'. The Main Trunk Railway would thus be made a popular Wellington-Auckland connection, and would prove a great convenience to all who may be desirous of- visiting Auckland during the visit of- the.fleet; .and'during, the playing . of the test'match which we hope to see arranged." .' FARES ON TRUNK'ROUTE. \ WANGANUI RIVER. ! . Auckland May 3. The present fare • frpin . Auckland:' to r Wellington by the Main Trunk , route, is . £2 14s. 6d. first-class ahd-£l 17s. 2d .'-second-.' , class. This includes the coach.. journey bo-': tweeii Makatote and Ohakune, a distance of. nino miles.: Persons intending to visit' Wellington, can leave any day,'stopping the night at, Taumarunui, the second night at Taihape, and arriving in Wellington on theV third.', -The Aucklana-to-Wellington . via tho Central Railway ,and. Wanganui , River, has Jieen reduced to 355. ..'The. re- : duction has been rendered possible by .the in-, creased accommodation available oil the-, new steamer .which' has boon put on' ; the Upper Wanganui:. ' This reduced faro is available . from North to South only.; '. '" - ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S VIEW.' " i (BY" ! TELEGR~ATII;—PRESS ''ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, May 3. Speaking in Christchurch to'a "Truth'-', reporter witli regard to the Main Trunk works, over which'he had recently passed, the At-- , torney-General (Dr. Findlay) stated that the i work was' being "carried on apparently with the utmost Expedition, and tho Minister for Public. Works seernod to be satisfied that the trains would be. -running right through to Auckland Iby tho .end of the jreat. "The route, from Taumarunui to Ohakune," continued Dr. Findlay, "presents some ofi the most picturesquo views in the North Island, and both '' - the: Minister for Public .Works and myself • were impressed with tho advisability _of try- .• ing tot preserve some of ,the. best scenic beau-; ■ ties in the forest along the line.' The line has already produced a' good: deal of settle? . ment, and I found tho settlers, although their, conditions were pretty hard, were exceedingly ' cheerful and hopeful regarding the .future,'. There is no doubt that the high lands are not very rich at present. They mainly carry pine forest, but a- great* deal' of the lower lanaa .along the route would be suitable for almost 1 ahy Trind'of farming; A great deal of it ia like the land about Taihape." ,