H.M.S. RENOWN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 10

H.M.S. RENOWN

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON BERTHED AT PIPTEA AVIIARF With her silver'grey shining in the sunlight, H.M.S. Renown, heralding the arrival of Royalty, steamed round Point Jerniugham a few minutes before 9.30 o'clock this morning, and little more than lialf-an-hour. later, found a snug berth alongside the Pipitea Wharf. Leaving Auckland at 8.50 a.m. on Thursday, the Renown made brief calls at Gisbonie and Napier on the way down the East Coast. She left Napier for Wellington at 0.30 p.m. yesterday, and was first sighted off . Wellington Heads at 8.25 o'clock this,morning. She was then twelve miles off. The Renown made the Heads at 9.10 o'clock, and at once received a rousing welcome from the many hundreds of people that lined tlio foreshore in the vicinity of Soatoun. From this point an excellent view of tho mighty battleship was to bo obtained, and as she steamed majestically up the entrance she presented a wonderful picture. Those who waited on tho hills around Wellington and on every tall building of tho city caught a first glimpse of the Renown as she swept round Point Jerniugham. Emblematic of Britain's might, the Renown provided a stirring spectacle as, once round the point, she swung into line preparatory to moving into her berth. The Harbourmaster (Captain J. Dawson), accompanied by Pilot Peterson, boarded tho Renown at this point, having gone out ou tho Harbour Board launch Arahiua. Once the pilots were on board, the' Renown proceoded steadily tohor berth, whero the battleship was berthed without the slightest hitch. The Konown was drawing 32 feet C inches, and it was estimated that there was another ten feet of water beneath her. Tho fact that the reversal of the propellers caused an amount of sediment to rise caused some people to think thai there was not sufficient water for the Renown,'but it is pointed out that this always happens during tho berthing of a ship of the Renown's size.

Soon after the Renown was berthed oilieial calls were made on Captain Sulivan by the Mayor (Mr. C. B. Norwood), City Councillors, and by the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. M. Cohen) and member's of the board. These were returned early this afternoon by Captain Sulivan. This afternoon a reception is being hold on board the Renown. To-morrow afternoon and on Monday afternoon the ship will bo thrown open to visitors between the hours of 2 and 5.30. Very complete arrangements have been made for the entertainment o£ officers and men of the Renown during their stay in Wellington. To-day's arrangements ncludo a Soccer football match at Athletic Park between teams representing the Renown and the Wellington Football Association. To-night officers of the Renown will bo cntertaiued by the Wellington Savage Club, and there will be dancing for the men at the Town Hall. The Renown's military band, under the baton of Lieut. Pragnoll, will play a programme of music.at Oriental Bay to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 3 o 'clock. H.M.S. Uenown will remain in Wellington until Wednesday morning next, when she will leave for Picton.