THE FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 275, 13 August 1908, Page 7

THE FLEET.

CELEBRATIONS AT AUCKLAND. HEAVY RAILWAY TRAFFIC. GREAT PREPARATIONS AT ROTORTJA', (BI TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, August 12. Tho weather continues fine for the Fleet celebrations. The Taces at Ellerslie were the chief attraction to-dav, but apart- from the large crowd on the courso, the streets are still thronged with people. The Premer (Sir Joseph Ward) and members of Parliament, with Admiral Sperry and his officers, left for Rotorua by special train from the racecourse this afternoon'. The railway traffic continues to be tre-. mendously heavy. Ordinarily twelve or fourteen carriages suffice to cope with tho Rotorua traffic, but l this morning no less than 21 vehicles were attached to the express. A crowd of over 1000 people left at 10 o'clock for the thermal regions and stations en route. • • There are at present three colliers en route to Auckland with coal for the American Fleet, and they may be expected at any time. The colliers which have already arrived are now all alongside the various battleships filling the bunkers one by one. Coaling operations will not, it is expected, be completed before the end of the week. The hospital ship Relief arrived from San Francisco and Samoa this morning. The' vessel is commanded by Surgeon C. F. Stokes. The s.s. Culgoa will probably sail to-morrow for Brisbane to load frozen meat for the Fleet.

H.M. Flagship Powerful leaves for Sydney at 8 a.m. to-morrow in order to assist at the weloome to the Fleet at that port.