“A GLORIOUS GLIMPSE”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 195, 13 May 1924, Page 9

“A GLORIOUS GLIMPSE”

WARSHIPS’ VISIT TO WELLINGTON CITY’S THANKS CONVEYED ' TO ADMIRAL/ In a farewell letter to the Mayor last week, Sir Frederick Field, of the Special Service Squadron, expressed the pleasure both officers, and men of the squadron had experienced during their stay in Wellington. To that letter Mr. Wright has replied as follows : — . n “On behalf of the City Council and citizens of Wellington, it affords me very much pleasure as, Mayor to acknowledge your very kind letter, expressive of the appreciation of the Special Service Squadron of our efforts to render their stay in Wellington as pleasant as possible. “On our part, may I say how much we appreciated the visit of the squadron to our city : the stately and, dignified entry of the great battleships into the harbour forming an impressive scene ever to be remembered by those who saw it; and the march of the men of the squadron through the streets of the city—a splendid exhibition of physique, training and discipline. “Further, we have to thank you and all those who took part in tho series of entertainments given by the officers and men for the benefit of the citizens ; the admirable and much enjoyed pantomime "Sinbad the Sailor'’ by the officers, on behalf of the Wellington orphanages, which resulted ,in a sum of approximately £lBO being raised for their benefit; the combined bands' very fine performance at Oriental Bay. which was highly appreciated by a great concourse of citizens, a collection of £23 being made in aid of the residential nursery; and also the splendid performance given by the band of the H.M.S. Hood in the Town Hall, when a collection was made of £3O in aid of the Mothers’ Help Division of the Women’s National Reserve. “We have also to thank you very sincerely indeed for the very generous entertainment by the ship’s companies of the thousands of school children which visited the ships, and we are sure that the memory of their visit will long form a topic of conversation among them and ever be a red letter day in their lives. “We are deeply thankful for the impressive part taken by the officers and men of the squadron in joining with the citizens in the celebration of Anzac Day and for your own impressive remarks on that solemn ocea-r sion. Lastly, for that, magnificent display of tho battleships’ searchlights. which so brilliantly illuminated in turn every part of the city, as a farewell handshake, as it were, prior to the squadron’s departure on Thurs- . day morning last, “We thoroughly enjoyed your visit in every way, and are only sorry that we could not do more to show our appreciation. However, we are glad to know that the squadron’s memory of Wellington will be pleasant and happy May I also assure you that our remembrance of tne visit of the battleships, and their personnel, will long live in our memorise as a glorious glimpse of a part of that grand old British Navy on which, by the grace and providence of God, the stability of our great Empire is maintained; and which ensures peace, not only to ourselves in this distant portion of the British Commonwealth as well as to all its component parts,, blit which very largely by its very existence and its known power and prestige secures the peace of the world. “Again on behalf of the citizens let me thank you end the officers nnd men of the squadron for the, many happy experiences of their visit to this city, and express the sincere hop?* that a very happy, pleasant and profitable time inay be enjoyed by them during the remainder of their stay in the Dominion.”