UNITED STATES FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 4

UNITED STATES FLEET.

.WELLINGTON'S LACK'OF ENTHUSIASM. (DY TBkEGEAPH.—SPECIAL COKBESPOkDEHT.) .Auckland, July 3. In itfl " Fleet News " column this.nwming, the "Herald" says:—Auckland's enthusiasm oyer the American fleet grows daily, and there is nothing parochial about it either. Aucklanders feel that the visit of the fleet is a national event, to be looked at in ; that spirit, and they are determined the Americans shall carry away with them the pleas.antest- recollections of a genuine Now Zealand welcome. Wellington unfortunately does not; regard the matter in precisely the samo lightj and the lack of enthusiasm in the Dominion capital about thefleot's'visit is in rather striking to the interest' displayed by Auckland's citizsns. It is ncft a merely locaL evont, and it Bhould not bo regarded from a parochial standpoint.. Auckland is tho port the fleet is coming to, it is true,, but the visit is to New Zealand 'as a nation, and not, Auckland as a jiort. ■ It is rather regrettable that Wellingtonians do not) realise this, but apparently they do not. "There is an-apparent want of interest in the capital city regarding the coming of the fleet," remarked Mr. Donno, ono of. the Government Commissioners to a "Herald" representative yesterday. Mr. Donne - was of the opinion that this lack of interest was duo moro to tho scant mention of itho Auckland preparations in the Wellington •Press than to. a lukewarm feeling on tho part of the Wellington people, for during his stay in the capital he was asked for information by many people who are going to visit Auckland during fleet week. Mr. Donne told people who wore interested that the Auckland people were' regarding the fleet's coming as,: a national event, and not as ono of local' importance only. _ ' The Mayor of Invorcargill (Mr.'W. B. Scandrott) has thus telegraphed to tho Prima Minister (Sir /Joseph Ward) Thank you for the telegram and troublo. taken relative to tho ibanner. I" am desirous that visitors may sco that Invcrcargill sentiments in tho South are in unison with Auckland's - warm porsonal welcome in the North. I hope to be there also." ' ; •

.."Are you in favour of spending all this money to entertain tlio American fleet ?"j asked an irats farmer this morning in town.' Then ho answered his own question by adding;—" Why, I can show a road within. 14 miles of this city where it is almost impossible to got a cart through the mad." When it was suggested that it was not tho duty of the City Council to look after tho roads so far from town, ho said indijrmmt-Iy: " ftnt the money which tho Government is spending over this* affair would do. moro good on tlio roads." '