RUSH OF VISITORS FROM COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1924, Page 8

RUSH OF VISITORS FROM COUNTRY

FINAL OF CUTTER RACE

VARIOUS SPORTING EVENTS,

The weather, which was perfect yesterday, and opened fine early this morning, broke shortly before 10 o'clock in a drizzle from the north. The rush of visitors was, however, as great as ever, and as far as'the country was concerned, surpassed that of the earlier days of the Squadron in port. The resumption of the railway, service has given school children from the country their long-expected opportunity of visiting, .the warships, and ..crowds came in from upHhe line to-day. The pressure of numbers is now <so great that,it has teen decided to adopt from to-day the practice in vogue elsewhere of allowing schools to visit only one ship. Probably this will- be all to the good, as it will allow . more time to see one ship.', which in reality it would take a week to .inspect thoroughly. To all practical extents and purposes there ifi just as much to be seen on one ship as on the other, only experts being able to distinguish important. differences.

■I'he arrangements to-day included visits from three city schools to the Repulse and an excursion from the district between Longburn and Pu'kerua, with a ;largei party of children.who visited the Hood. The party returned at 3'p.m. The Training College students also visited the Hood this morning. All arrangements for. transport and refreshments are working well, thanks greatly So the services of the Navy League and its helpers. ■ ■ ...'■-, '.-'■'' (' . Arrangements have been made by the Railway Department" for '/country School. children from Wariganui and 'intervening . stations * 'on. .the west' coast, and from Masterton' on '.the Wairarapa line, -to visit 'the Squadron. ■'As the trains^conveying, these children ■cannot reach the city until about noon, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field..has consented to : make special .arrangements for their reception as. follow:— To-morrow, •■H.M'.S. Hood, from 1.15 't),2.15 p'm.., Mondayj H.M.S. 'Repulse, from 1.15 to 2.15 p.m. Wednesday, H.M.S. Hood, from 1.15 to 2.15 p.m. The ships, therefore, in the afternoons above mentioned will not be open to-the general public until 2:30 o'clock.

With these exceptions, and that of Monday, sth May, and, Tuesday, 6th May, H.M.S. Hood will'be'open .for- inspection by the general public from 1.30 to <5.30 p.m.. throughout her stay in port; and H.M.S. Repulse willlalso.be open for', inspection during the same hours ever-y day except on Tuesday, 6th'May, and Wednesday, 7th May.. ' The reason for' closing-the vessels to the public oh the other days "is that they 'will be giving ships' companies' at homes, dinners, 'or dances, and it would therefore be impossible to rig the ship! .■' . ■ .- ■ J REPULSE jENTERTAINMEN,p:;;' - The captain and officers of, - tKe Repulse are arranging' to give little children a great time .on Tuesday* afternoon .'.next: As it^\vould.4De.,.impossible, to. •make the affair" open to the.public, it has been decided tqf- invite 500 children and some 300 adults to look after them. Among the novelties to ;be provided for the delectation of- the', little ones is a giant mushroom, a huge revolving table ; affair; on whioh -ihe children "are seated, and as the " mushroom" quickens in its action the children roll off, and are caught on mattresses disposed for their reception. -Another novelty will be the Ferris fun wheel, ■which is also calculated to send, the little ones crazy with; delight. • .'..'.:■■ ( : SEARCHLIGHT DISPLAY. Inquiries have been-made as to when the warships will- give a-searchlight display, which, is/anticipated with a 1 lively I .'interest. - The date has not yet been decided,;'but: it will probably be a day ,pr two before the vessels.take their final departure. Some announcement '.will be made im time to let the public know when to expect the lights of the ships flashing through the heavens. \