SPECIAL SERVICE SQUADRON

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 8

SPECIAL SERVICE SQUADRON

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S VISIT The first stage in the eagerly-awaited visit to the warships by . the country school children was carried out yesterday, when about 600 youngsters frem the Lower, Upper, and Eastern Hutt, Epuni, Karapoti, Whiteman’s Valley, Normandale, Mangaroa, and Stokes Valley were brought to Wellington under the charge of _Mr. A. Mcßain, headmaster of the Eastern Hutt School. The party was met on arrival at 10.40 a.m. by Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. J. P. Firth, C.M.G., Captain T. H. Chudley (Wellington Navy League) and J. Dineen (Wellington Education Board). Assembling at Waterloo Quay, the children followed a route via Hineinoa Street an 4 Fryatt Quay, and fully inspected the wonders of the mighty H. Hood, after which they returned to the Harbour Board s shed No. 39 and enjoyed refreshments provided by the Government and distributed bv the Navy League, assisted by the Wellesley Club, the Commercial Travellers’ Association, and other helpers. A train leaving Lambton at I. p.m. conveyed the sightseers to their homes. About 600 children from several of the city schools also visited the warships yesterday morning. The Railway Department has arranged to run excursion trains io enable schools to visit the Hood and Repulse as follow: — Thursday—Plimmerton to Tawa Flat: Leave Plimmerton 7.30, Paremata 7.35, Porirua 7.45, Tawa Flat 7.50; arrive Thorndon 8.43. Return 2 p.m. Johnsonville to Ngaio: Leave Johnsonville 8.35, Khandallah 9.42, Ngaio 9.50; arrive Wellington 10. Leave Wellington. 2 p.m. Petone to Wellington—Leave Lower Hutt, taking Taita children only, 9.45; Petone, 9.52; arrive Wellington, 10.7. Leave Wellington 2.5, Petone 2-20, Hutt 2.25. It is understood that a children’s excursion will be run from Longburn to Pukerua on Friday, and one from Palmerston on Saturday. CUTTER RACES The eliminating contests in the cutter races between crews representing the Hood, Repulse, Adelaide, and Chatham were held yesterday morning. The course was a two-mile one, stretching from a point out in the harbour to a line between the Hood and the Chatham. Hood defeated Repulse by four lengths, and Adelaide defeated Chatham by 30 strokes. Each crew comprised 12 men and a cox. Rowing was made difficult by a head wind and sea. The final race between crews representing Hood and Adelaide will be rowed at 11 o’clock on Friday morning. The winning crew will gain the Frobisher Cup, a valuable silver trophy presented by Mr. Frobisher, of Wellington, and each member will he presented with a gold medal donated by Messrs. Mayer and> Kean. A spirited contest is anticipated.