AUCKLAND WELCOMES THE FLEET

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 194, 12 May 1924, Page 7

AUCKLAND WELCOMES THE FLEET

BUT WAITEMATA FAILS TO SPARKLE HARBOUR COMPARISONS (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS association.) Auckland, May 10. The Waitemata this morning was not altogether the sparkling water that Aucklanders are so wont to bring to the notice of visitors to these shores. But whiit the visitors were denied was made up to residents when tho Imperial Service Squadron arrived here for out of the misty distance emerged the mighty bulk of the Hood and tho Repulse, symbolic of the evolution or the British Navy from the mists ot Britain’s early history. Nature was more than usually kind in her affinity with humanity, for Auckland’s welcome typified by a burst of sunshine that greeted the Hoods’ arrival and berthing. To descend from liyperbole to reality, the morning broke wet, but as nine o’clock, the hour of toe arrival of the Delhi, approached the clouds lifted and as the Hood berthed the sun shone out. An hour later, the Repulse, accompanied by the cruisers Danae, Dragon, and Adelaide, dropped anchor in the stream, the other two vessels having berthed at Prince s afterwards a heavy shower welcomed the vistors, but as the dav wore on the conditions improved until the late afternoon was perfect Thousands of spectators lined every prominent point in the city, and every lofty building had its quota of sightseers on the roof. , Hundreds went down the harbour by steamer to catch a. glimpse of the visitors in something like sea-going order. A noteworthy feature.. of tho welcome, articulated by a dm of sea and shore whistles, was the procession of yachts and launches, which Admiral Field at the civic reception, described as a very beautiful and inspiring sight To sum ut> —except ‘that Auckla.net had the Hood, Repulse, and four cruisers — Auckland’s welcome compared with that of the rest of the Dominion, was, as Admiral Field said in an interview, “So —so. But it; was not in relation to. welcomes hut to harbours, that Admiral Field told an elaboration of the joke about_ one horse to one rabbit in a certain comestible. Admiral Brand neatly capped his senior’s reference to Auckland anil Wellington bv substituting m thecase of Auckland and Lyttelton an elephant for a horse. Tlfere was a scene of spontaneous enthusiasm at the Town Hall at a civic reception to Admirals Field and Brand and their officers. The May™ (Mr. Gunson) presided, and the Kight Hon. W. F. Massey Mid the Hon. C. J. Parr were among those present. Admiral Field, in his reply, touched briefly on the question of. protection of trade routes ns dealt with by him in speeches and interviews at Wellington Admiral Brand said the office, s and men had been greatly impressed by the intense patriotism, loyalty, and enthusiasm for the Mother Count! J shown at every P O F t ’ . , Nearly 6000 children from ci tv and country schools visited the Hood ano Repulse in the afternoon, 1600 being brought by train from stations between Cambridge and Whangamanno. BIG CROWDS VISIT THESHIFS WHARF BARRIERS BROKEN DOWN SEVERAL WOMEN INJURED. Auckland, May 11. The Hood and Repulse were open to the public this afternoon, bcins thronged throughout the peuod. Half an hour after the Hood was opened she was full, and the wharf gates were closed, leaving thousands out side The pressure of the crowd broke in the gates, several women fainting and some being rather badiy crushed and having to be removed m ambulances and motor cars. Extra police were then, brought in to regulate traffic to the ship. -