FRIENDLY RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 149, 28 June 1929, Page 14

FRIENDLY RELATIONS

VISIT OF THE EMDEN

"SPIRIT OF PEACE AND ■ GOODWILL"

ißy Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. "Our sailors have- found it glorious to be iv Auckland," said an officer of the Emdon yesterday. "The men," he said, "are very pleased at the reception they have met with everywhere in the town. They have been invited to many houses and taken out to a number of dances." "We all feel happy at the good relations that have been established," said another officer,, speaking in perfect English. "Our. mission was to establish if possible good relations between our nation and the rest of the world, and everything, that has happened so far has been in that direction. Politicians." he added with a smile, "often make speeches that do not help to cement friendship, and it is most gratifying to us on visiting • your country to find that the people we have met are putting the war behind them and helping to build up a spirit of peace and goodwill." The same officer went on to relate how a party of officers were accosted by a local resident in Queen street, who stopped his motor-car aud invited the strangers to his home. They accepted and were given an excellent time. The cruiser is being repainted quickly in Calliope Dock, and to-morrow it is hoped to berth her at Central Wharf. The weather conditions have been most unfavourable, but the crew are work-j ing hard under adverse conditions to make the warship spick and span for public inspection. There is a general feeling that the crew are a quiet and well-behaved body of men. British ratings are fraternising with the German visitors and inviting them to their canteen, as well as to places of amusement in the city. This friendliness is greatly appreciated by the Commander and officers of the Emden. . .... A special reception to lepresentatives of the Press will be held on board the Emden next Monday at 3.45 p.m. The commander of the Emden and his A.D.C., the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Lieut.-Colonel Duigan visited the Jubilee Institute.for the Blind yesterday. The Emden's commander expressed astonishment at the steps taken to educate the blind. He issued an invitation to the workers at the institute to visit the Emden on Monday morning, when he would have special officers told ofE to show, them over the vessel. The commander and his A.D.C. both received x mementoes of the visit in the shape of wastepaper baskets. He shook hands with several returned soldiers. ■