THE FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 276, 14 August 1908, Page 7

THE FLEET.

THE ROTORUA PROGRAMME.

MAORI CEREMONIES. (bt telegraph—pkees association.) Rotorua, August 13. Tlio American Naval officers appear to have greatly enjoyed' their stay at Rotorua. About nino o'clock this morning buses laden with various members of. the official party'and national guests began 'to travel about tho streets and'out to Ohinemutu, where tho thermal action excited great interest.

A procession of carriages was then formed outside tho Grand Hotel' arid drovo to tho Sanatorium grounds. Tho.first carriago was. occupied by Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Sperry, Lady Ward, and Mrs. Fyllr'(wife of Captain Fyler of tho Encounter). Tho town band played "Tho Star-spangled .Banner.".

After tho ceremonies of challenging by three Maori warriors had been performed at tho entrance, tho party proceeded on foot along Queen's drive where jliakas of welcome were danced by both sexes of Maoris. When Hearing the new bath building a welcome was given by a numbor of Maori maidens..who were attired in bright coloured . dresses; land excellent Maori mats and korowais, each performer holding a green twig in her hand. Tho Maori' demonstration!, prb.ved "iriost in-', teresting tb the American'YfSito'rs. ' "*•••

Sentinels placed on watch' towers' at: the corners of the pa announced in a loud voice the approach ot the procession. A party of warriors entering from the north was faced' by a party issuing from the pa. After some ovolutions both'parties combined and danced several.hakas of welcome., ~,|At the conclusion of the hakas a number of leading Maoris made speeches of welcome.'

WELCOME FROM THE ARAWAS. Tho Chief Kibiaroa delivered the following speech:—

"Welcome, welcome; to Adjniral Sperry and the American officers from the Arawas. Welcome,; to our; distin-.-guished visitors, who are Sprung," from , the samo. lineage as the Anglo-Saxons and our King Edward VII. We specially welcoiho you because - the Maoris-are • a ■ seafaring people, and in the olden days, . when your ancestors wero hugging the coasts, they sailed in canoes, dubbed out with axes, all over tho Pacific Ocean long' before Columbus, discovered your country, or Leif the. Red touched upon its shores. Our tribe camo to New Zealand in tho Arawa - canoe,froin , which we talco-' our name. We hav"o V greeted you with a welcome from the warriors first becauso ypu are warriors. Had you not been warriors- our women would liavo been tho first to' greet you.■ Again, we the Arawas'welcome you." Dr. Buck acted as interpreter during the wholo proceedings. 1 4

THE ADMIRAL'S REPLY. In reply, Admiral Sperry thanked the Maoris very heartily for their kind welcome, more especially as it was from ono seafaring people to another. Tho Anglos-Saxon'.race was spreading over tho Pacific, 'and 'where-' ever it went it ameliorated tho condition of those peoples who becamo its subjects. He again thanked them for their welcome, according to tho ceremonies of their race. Sir Joseph Ward also mado a brief address of thanks. The American officers here gave their longdrawn ascending scale "Hurrah" tbrecr times. l'oi dances were then executed-under the management of guides Maggie arid Belli,' and hakas by a number of warriors stripped to tlio waist. . Many valuable presents wero made by the Maoris to the guests, including .several handsome kiwi feather mats,'flax'and' fibre mats, kits, a sword, war belts, meres, -taiahas, 1 and other weapons, some very ancient and: richly carved. !. \ \T Admiral Sperry and Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and Mrs. Fyler were invested with Maori cloaks by Maggie, imd Bella. >.

NEW BATH-HOUSE OPENED. ■ ' Sir Joseph Ward then opened, tho newibivth-, house, which has been erected' in the. sanatorium grounds. Having opened .the ' door with a golden key, Sir Joseph..AVard/, accompanied by the official party, ascended the balcony, where he delivered an address. The Premier, in the course of his remarks, gave figures illustrative of the progress of llotorua as follows During the last fivo years the gross receipts to the Government from Rotorua have increased 153 per - cent. Tho population lias risen from 900 to 2000; tho number of houses from 96 to over 500, including business'premises. The ; total'.(receipts since 1902 were £43,282, and during tho samo period tho bath receipts were £16,611. Tho _ building contains the last word of scienco in the electrical, massage; and other methods of treating disease.; At-pre-sent tho town has an electric lighting • at a cheaper rato than Wellington,:, .During five years the Government has paid £21,253 into the town account. "Rotorua," ho said, "is unique inasmuch as ,it 'belongs tothe peoplo and is nlanaged.-' by 7s,\State partment. I trust tho building I am gpening may prove a success, both as a pleasure resort ana a place where pain will bo alleviated and sickness cured." (Applause.) '■'On being asked to say a few words,- Admiral Spcrry thanked Sir Joseph Ward and the New Zealand peoplo for their hearty welcome, and said that as for tho building,'lib would like to take it away with hiin. (Laughter and applause.) Sir J.- Ward then spoko in high terms of praise of tho work done by Mr. Donne, Dr. Wohlmann (balneologist), Mr. Corlett and Mr. Trigg (architects of tho building), and Mr. Hutchinson (contractor). Cheers were given, and the building was then declared open. In tho afternoon the visitors drove to Whakarewarewa, whore a new ing-houso was opened wifclr' ancient- formalintics. Two loading chiefs, Mita Taupopoki and Tutanokai, delivered speeches, and presented addresses to Admiral Sperry and Sir Joseph Ward. , The thermal sights were then viewed, under the guidance of Maggie... and,.Bella,, and other Native guides. fl#* 'geyser was soaped, and gave a magnificent disBrilliant weather prevailed throughout tho In tho evening the ba.id played in tho Government gardens, and a Maori entertainment was given in two halls. THE BATHS DESCRIBED'; ' A PALATIAL BUILDING. , (BX TEl,EOnirH.—sl-ECUt. COBBESFONDEXT.) Rotorua, August 13. Tho now bath building-opened" by-Sir Joseph Ward to-day, is a very'-handsome structuro in tho old English'. timber^,rallied; stylo of domestic architecture.' It-consists-of a main hall and two side wings. The.framework is of totarn, filled With reinforced con--creto slabs, giving an earthquake-proof construction. Tho building is roofod in darkStained Brosloy tiles, which look very effective. Tho entire building covers, no less than. 15,903 square feet, oxclusivo of vorandahs and portico, which work out to. 176? squaro : yards, which is nearly three-eighths of an; acrp. Tho ridges of tho roof, aro .88ft ( abovo tho ground line, and the central tower rises to 124 ft. When tho outside wing is added at tho south end of tho building it will cover a, total area of 21,547 square feet, 2397 squaro yards, being nearly half an acre. Tile exterior walls aro reinforced concreto up to sft. above the ground level, from which thoy aro constructed of concrete Blabs set in a. strong timber framing. Somo idea of the weight of the timbers used may be gained from the fact that one of tho collar beams on the central portion weighs two tons and a half,'whilo somo of tho carved barge boards weigh 13} cwt. each. Tho interior is sumptuously fittod up. All tho bathrooms and dressing-rooms aro tiled and tho baths are solid glazed porcelain let into tho floor with nickcllcd hand rails and fittings. Tho dressing-rooms are comfortably furnished with carpets, lounges, dressing tables,-and; electrio heaters. There are massngo, inhalation, and electric massago rooms, high frequency baths, electrio-baths, j

hot air, vapour, and mud hatha, Russian sit?,, ; douche, deep and shallow baths, and, in • fact, every kind of modern bath known to balneologists. Tho biggest basin is the Priests' Bath (public), which is to all intents and purposes a plunge or splash bath. Tho prices to bo charged range from 6cL to 10s. Gd. The latter will be the fee for X-ray treatment. Tho contract prico of the building was £2o,700 ; but apart from this tho Government provided the baths, tho tiles, and tho fittings, and laid on the water. A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED. MAORI GENEROSITY. THERMAL WONDERS. (at TELEGEATH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Rotorua, August 13< To-day was the delectable day of the officers of the United States Fleet—that is to say of those, who were fortunate enough to bo able to make the trip to Rotorua. The . weather alone was enough to make a properly constituted young man glad to'bo alive. But to be alive and to bo at Rotorua wa! a combination that seemed almost too good to bo true. Tho drives in the brilliant weather, the strange, picturesque Native dances . and ceremonies, tlie hospitality on every hand, and the. smiling faces, constantly met, mado the day one that will be . long , remembered,.. Splendid as was the sight of the muscular Maori warriors with their beautiful feather cloaks, quaint, as were the sounds of their songs and war cries, now hoarse, harsh','' and..anon gurgling and musical like funning water, " what 1 - most impressed the young Americans was the-magnificent generosity with which, after apologising for the smallness of their gifts aS compared- with.- • what their ancestors could have bestowed, . the chiefs one after another approached the Admiral and threw at his feet soma of.the. most valued treasure's "of the Arawa tribe.''

' But for freshness land pleasure, the afternoon excelled'.-even the ' morning;' Whakarewarewa, with its .geysers, boiling springs, mud pools, regions . ofsulphurous; atmosphere, hot ground; and steaming holes, provoked tho frequent .jibe that it was a first experience of Hades; but Hades among happy, smiling'maidens, Hades 'with Maggie ana Bella in the most charming feather mats, with innocent chubby children all round theplace, with Sophia sitting in. the sunshine, with Sir Joseph Ward and the Admiral beaming—was a sort' of thing that. had-; not been so much as thought of before. : Old Mita Taupopoki \vas also,enjoying himself immensely with his tablui and:.all his picturesque, antique finery, speechifying and posturing at the opening, of tlie new meeting house. Tutanekai with him was equally enthusiastic. ..... . , ~ ! And then the . geysers. Even .Wairoa seemed to do. its best for the visitors. Six-, teen minutes after Admiral Sperry, 'instructed by Maggie, had thrown in the soap, the white column of water rose and sent some of the too .venturesome' spectators scuttling nv all' directions,' with .heads tucked" under their coat-collars.' . Up and up and up went the white"'water, shining against the' blue sky, And glinting in the sun rays. Like a group of rockets tlie point soared and fell, and the playful sun mado.a rainbow of the spray. The display was, if one may follow the Auckland custom of trying to talk American, sixteen ounces to tho pound, all wool and a yard wide. If the metaphor is' mixed it is no worse in this connection than when it .was used by a worthy American to 'describe his' Aunt Sarah's religion.- According to the official estimate Wairoa's shot was • Throughout their entire visit the Americans have appreciated the hospitality extended to them, but they are unanimous in declaring that to-<lay has. been the limit. Wo never had such a time in our lives. It certainly-has been a great day for,.all.contained, tho only-fly in the ointment; being :tho disappointment of the Maoris at not .seeing 'the officers in uniform. The Natives "dearly liko a display of colour, but the Admiral had given permission to his officers to make the trip in civil attire, and they accordingly were glad to do so. They had but two regrets, namely l that they could not Btay longer and that all their fellow officers could .not pome tool . The train leaves at 7.30 to-morrow morning to take tliem back : to Auckland by 2.30 so that "the Admiral and Flag-Lieutenant may attend a reception oil the U:S.S..Louisiana;

RIFLE MATCH. . ■ AUCKLANDERS VICTORIOUS. , ( B * telegraph—:Pe?ss : association.) . .Auckland, August 13. t ! A team of Auckland volunteers defeats representatives of the rifle shots of the Ameri- , 'can Fleet at Penrose to-day by 65 points. The conditions were 25 men aside, with 6even shots at 200. 500, and 600 yards. 1 Auckland got 2311 points- and the visitors 2246. •- The highest'scores of the day* were put-on by Midshipmen. Jones and Stewart of the visitors, who, got 102 and 100.respectively. The homo team s best score was 09. / METHODS OF THE SAILOR«POLICE. M.-.'..:.; Auokland,. August 13. An exposition of sailor-polico effective'" ness was seen in Queen Street yesterday. . Some American sailors boarded an empty 1 motor car and demanded a ride. Persuasion from the owner of the car failed to induce them to got out, but the-, patrol - promptly jumping into the car literally belaboured ;:tho men until they wero glad to cut and run I for it.

THE VOYAGE TO SYDNEY. Auckland, August 13. • The Fleet will leave,tlie waters of the Waitemata at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The speed on -the voyago to Sydney has been fixed for ten knots' per hour, and the warships anchor ill tho Australian harbour on Thursday morning at 11.30 a.m. ' \ - H.M.S. Powerful left for Sydney this morning. , ' - '; ... The supply steamer Culgoa sails'for Brisbane to-morrow morning to load a Cargo' of fresh meat for the Fleet. The vessel arrives at Brisbane on /August 19, and rejoins the Fleet at.Sydney a few days, later. 'Some 'thirty officers 1 from' tho 'Ainerican Fleet left for Motutapu to-day to indulge in a day's sport deer-stalking on the'lsland. Tho party -returned to 'town this evening with several good antlers as trophies' of the visit. * "" • '

CREETINGSWFROM QUEENSLAND. "IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE." Auckland, August 13. ' Tho Acting Chief' Secretary for Queens-> land has cabled to Admiral; Sperry expressing regrot that the Fleet mil be. unable to visit. .Brisbane, and conveying affectionate 'greetings."'"' ' . 1 f" Admiral Sperry has Teplied expressing on behalf of the American Government heart-, felt -thanks for the cordial greeting. He' added: "America,and Australasia, in working towards the realisation of ideals of freedom and justice inherited from, tho Mother Country, and sharing , the community. of'interest' of our race, must ever dwell together in sympathy and mutual understanding,; aad it is but natural that the warmest friendship 'and regard should mark our intercourse ; but the unbounded hospitality and r evidence of esteem with which wo ari meet-, ing on every baud' among' your pedple aro/ "peculiarly gratifying. It is regretted that.the nocessity for tho return of the Fleet to 'the Atlantic by a certain date precludes tho possibility of extending our stay in Australian waters-by a visit to Brisbane., \

AMERICA AND JAPAN. , Auckland,; August 13. A i story published yesterday 'by th« "Star" regarding tho concentration of American warships at; Manila being: sig. nificaiitl.v coincident with tho . ( date, upon which tho Japanese Immigration Treaty is to bo signed, ■ appears to bo.,'-'creditcd by ,a large number-of men of. tllo American Fleet. . ' THE WIRELESS MESSAGES. ' HOW IT WAS DONE. Tho publication in The Dominion 'of tho day-to-day movements of tho U.S.A. battleships after they left Honolulu, en route for Auckland, - occasioned -much .curiosity-regard-

ing the" chain of communication thus established..-, Mr.. H. M. Collins, tho general man--1 age?' of' Router's' Telegram ' Company at Sydney, explains the process in o letter dated August 6j in which he says:— ■ "For some time past endeavours have been . in progress to get into touch with the battleships Defore their arrival at Auckland, for which port they-steamed direct from Honolulu. It was at first attempted to establish communication through the good offices of the British Admiral, but it was found, on inquiry, that H.M.S. Powerful could riot exchange wireless messages with tho Amoricah vessels, presumably because different systems are employed. During .last week tho United States storeship Glacier arrived at Suva, and on, Friday wo learned from our l .correspondent there;that efforts would be made to speak with our representative on board one of the battleships on Tuesday, tho 4th instant, at a distance of 1200 . miles. Meanwhile it would be sought to establish a chain of communications on our behalf through the United States, vessel Yankton, then, lying at Tonga, and the Panther, at the coaling station, Pago Pago, in the Samoan' Group. In this succesß was achieved, with the result that we have been able to place; the • information so . obtained at the . disposal of your readers on five days in succession. As the Glacier left Suva'to-day thii'l ' aerial 'chain' has been broken for the time . being, at least." This is the-first time wire'less, telegraphy has been put to really practical useg, in - Australia (says the Sydney' - '"Telegraph"),: and although the, circuit rhas, been a long one in this instance, and,,its ■ final section of transmission to has not been "wireless," the incident has Bhown how now 3 from- mid-ocean can be obtained when» tho occasion requires. ( SYDNEY PREPARATIONS. ." (BTTEtEaiurn—rnisa -association—coptbight.; (Ree. August 14, 0:40 a.m.) y ■ Sydney, August 13., Preparations for the reception of the United 'States 'fleet aro processing .satisfactorily., Thd decoration of the streets is well:forward.