THE FLEET DEPARTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 278, 17 August 1908, Page 8

THE FLEET DEPARTS.

ESCORTED OUT OF HARBOUR. APPRECIATIONS BY OFFICERS. SOME DESERTERS. (by teleoeaph.—special correspondent.) Auckland, August 15. Tho departure of the Fleet this (Saturday) morning was witnessed by a large concourse of poople. The whole of the water-front was lined, and on various points of vantago afc the North Shore, and on the Takapuna Cliffs throngs were out ready to wave the farewell handkerchief and raise the farewell cheer. A mosquito fleet of coastal boats, ferry steamers, and smaller craft of all descriptions, all crowded to the limit of their capacity, accompanied . tho warships down tho harbour for some distance. Greetings were exchanged, bands played, and tlioro was a general enthusiasm and heartiness, which constituted a great send-off. It was with genuine regret that Aucklanders and visitors from the South saw the last of the White Armada, and it was with many a sigh , that the far.ewelling multitudo turned homeward after the last glimpso had been seen of tho'long majestic lino of battleships steaming out on the bosom .of the Wait-e----mata. . • Dccoratlons Disappearing. The entire week has been a. series of successes. Everyone has been pleased and gratified, no hitches havo arisen, and from tho beginning to the. end of the festivities fino weather 1 conditions" have, existed. Auckland is now once''more} rapidly returning to its normal state. The street decorations are in process of being taken down, business is being resumed, and tho exodus for the South and for tho out-districts has commenced. Sotno of tho-bluejackets—over 100, it is said—have remained- behind. Whether tlioy wero detained by business or are to bo classed as deserters history sayeth not. At any rate, there.jare several of them to be seen, in .the .streets. . , Delighted Officers. On iho return 'journey from Rotorua on Friday," a..reporter sought the opinions of the. American: officers with: reference to the 1 treatment 'they; had received in New Zealand, and in each instance he met with » ready response. ; "Come right along," said one., gentleman.., ;,, "You are just the man wo ( want.;,., We., want you- to tell tho people .of country, and particularly of these parts'," how much wo appreciate the reception.accorded to us.- You havo in all truth.'given us a/right royal welcome. You have, really given us: the time of our lives, and. we-.feel that we cannot let the opportunity pass without expressing in the only way we .can our appreciation of your efforts. In no iotlier place where, we have been, have wo met :with.such, a genuine and open-hearted people,';and we. wish to assure them through you that New. Zealanders for the future will ever possess a'warm place in' our hearts;"- • Would Like to Annex Rotorua. "Can't you get New Zealand to change its anchorage ?"' inquired another officer who was'presont. ''Because,'you know, wewant ;it up somewhere ; near New York City, or somewhere in tho Atlantic, where we' can get at it." .- • "Exactly," echoed another. "What Great Britain has to fear by this cruise is that the United States will annex Rotorua and place it somewhere in the States. . We were, astounded at the sights of -AYhakarewarewa, and particularly at Wairoa -geyser, whoso playing was a sight such as we never hoped to see, and will in all-probability'never sco again. Wo were .also, all particularly .interested in the Maoi'is,- who are a- rcinnrltabl.y finn people, of whom New Zealand may. well , feel proud. . Maoris and Negroes, ,- "iSomo of the chiefs whom we saw yes-terday-.acted like, old patriarchs, and wero dressed . like old Roman Senators. They wero absolutely the finest aboriginal race iwo havo, yet come across. They are quick 'and'intelligent, arid have a history which everyone' should admire. Wo, at any rate, admire them, and to demonstrate this I.can quote no better instance than tho fact-that many of our officers last night danced with them—a ■ thing - which we would never do with the negroes. The poi dances which the Maori women gave yesterday- were the most graceful that I have yet seen executed by a coloured race. We are going to en.deavour to get kinematographic films which wero taken of the whole thing produced on the stage in New York. We wero also much impressed with the Maori -.war-cry, and intend, if possible, to make it the Collegiate war-cry in the. Naval Academy.". • -The officers also desired to express their appreciation of the work cf the Government Commissioners.