WARSHIPS IN PORT

Evening Star, Issue 18623, 2 May 1924, Page 9

WARSHIPS IN PORT

DAUNTLESS AND DUNEDIN. LARGE CROWDS ATTRACTED. The public interest in the visit of the light cruisers Dauntless ami Dunedin is unabated, and to-day largo crowds made their way to the wharf to see the ships. The Railway Department has made special arrangements for the transport of country school children to Dunedin to see the vessels, and to-day over 1.000 children were brought from the Clinton district. from Lawrence and Waitahuna, and from the schools between Milbum and .Ail an ton by special trains which arrived this 'morning.

TRIP TO WAIPORI. HARBOR BOARD ENTERTAINS OFFICERS. A DELIGHTFUL OUTING. Yesterday twelve of the ships’ officers were taken for a trip to Waipori by the Otago Harbor Board, and a most enjoyable dav was spent by all. Tho lollowing made- the trip:—H.M.S. Dauntless: Captain Charles VV. RoundTurner, Engineer-commander N. S. Richardson, Surgeon-commander H. F. Briggs, (M,F.R.G.S., Lieutenant-commander D. C. Tufnall, D.S.C., Lieutenant R. I). Haig, Warrant Engineer E. E. Wellman, D.S.C. H.M.S. Dunedin; Captain the Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay, D. 5.0., Lieutenant-commander Sir Archibald Allison, Bart., Lieutenant-commander F. 11. M. Vaughan, Paymaster-lieutenant C. li. Gibbs, Schoolmaster F. H. Diplock, Gunner R. J. Maunder. Otago Harbor Board; Messrs John Loudon (acting chairman), J. M. Dickson, M.P., Wilkinson, Anderson, Cable, Larnach, M'Donald, Moller, Ramsay, Roberts, and the secretary (Mr W. J. Bardsley). The mayor (.Mr 11. L. Tapley) and Mr J. B. Shacklock (chairman of tho Electric Power and Lighting Committee of tho City Council) were present as the guests of the Harbor Board. PLEASANT MOTOR DRIVE. A start was made from tho ships at 9 o’clock, and the party was soon well on Ihe way. The six motor cars quickly left the streets of the city behind, and the visitors had their first real sight of the country when the cars surmounted the crest of Look-out Point, above Burnside, There -was a nip in the air at the commencement of tho trip, but by the time a few miles had been covered the warmth of tho rising sun made driving very pleasant. Suddenly, on rounding the corner of a. hill, the verdant Taieri Plain was revealed below, and evoked delighted exclamations from the visitors. The plain presented a beautiful sight as it stretched out, flat and green and fertile looking, on either hand. Hero and there were seen lines of tall poplars, and the darker green of mncrocarpa hedges. The drive across tho plain was thoroughly enjoyed. Tho road lay between hedge's of sweet-smelling, yellow-flowered purse. On tram was passed, and the party arrived all too soon- at Berwick. Here a stop was made for morning tea. It was not long before the cars were avain on tho way,"and it was soon seen by the visitors that tho country they were going into was vastly different in character from the plain they were leaving. The road lay for n space along the bank of the Waipori Stream. The muddy water slip sluggishly past- below, hero in sunshine, and there in dark shadow, re*fleeting in minute detail the imago of the rugged, rnrky, heavily-wooded slopes above. Tho' road pursues a tortuous course between the steep, lofty hills that frown down on either side, covered with n dense growth of native bush, and scarred by many gullies. jAT WAIPORI. The cars went onwards and upwards, rounding sharp bends, and here and there encountering slightly greasy patches of road. Waipori was reached towards mid-. dav, ami the motors had a hard pull through the mud on the hill above the power-house. .Mr London explained that, owing to tho greasy state of the road, they would unfortunately be unable to inspect tho dam. He proposed that I hey have a good look through the power-house, and leave Waipori in about an hour on the return journc'v to Berwick.

A move was then ryane to where the mammoth pipe hue bends to go down the steep hill t-n the power-honso. Mr ShackJock explained the scheme to the officers, indicating what had been done, what was being done, and what was proposed in respect of the future. As the party stood there, one of the officers, apparently after summing up his impressions of all he had seen, turned to a companion, with the exclamation; “ This is the country I am coming to. You can pack up Australia for me.” The same thought was probably in the mind of more than ono of the visitors.

An inspection of the power-house followed. The visitors were greatly interested in the machinery, and many snapshots were taken, both inside the building and outside, where the water, after driving the Pelton wheels, sprayed out at great pressure into the stream below. At halt-past 1 the return journey was commenced. The road along the river's bank is a narrow one, and there was a momentary halt when the cars met two teams of sweating horses toiling upwards with heavy waggon loads to Waipori. These were safely passed, and again the cars swung at a brisk price round the winding road. LUNCHEON AT BERWICK.

At Berwick the party stopped to partake of an excellent lunch, the arrangements for which were in the hands of t!u- Strand Company. After full justice had been done to the good things provided, Mr Loudon rose to propose the toast of “ The King.” After this had been drunk, Air Loudon apologised for the absence through illness of the chairman of the Harbor Board (Air I. 11. Russell). He said that the board v,us very pleased to have been able to piovide such a trip for the visitors, and tu show them Dunedin’s power-producing plant. He expressed the opinion that, ’.vlien it was fully developed, Waipori would provide the cheapest power in the world. The Atayor, Air Dickson, and Air Shacklock also «spok«, expressing their pleasure at being able to accompany the naval officers on such a trip. Captain Round-Turner, till senior capb in. said it had been for them a most enjoyable day. During their tour they had br-en so tied down to the life of the cities that they Lad not been able to see the country, and that was what they iiio-t desired to see. He thanked them for providing such a trip. They had spent a day so delightful that they would never forget it. Speaking of the power works, he said it was very interesting to see schemes of that extent. In conclusion, he remarked that they were delighted to visit Dunedin, and ho could assure them that they would endeavor to make the visit as pleasurable to the citizens as it had been to -them. (Applause.) Captain Ramsay said he entirely concurred with his senior officer’s remarks. They had come out here, to try to meet the people of the dominion, who had new ideas, and different lines of thought. In addition, the knowledge gained in cruising round these waters might at some future time be useful to them. In describing that day’s trip, he said they had had the time of their lives, and he expressed thanks for the kindness extended to them. The officers then drank the health of the Harbor Board members,, 'and ‘ Aukl Lan" Syne ' was sung. The return journey •was then continued, and the party arrived in Dunedin shortly before 5 o’clock. A word of praise is due to Air Bardsley (secretary of the Harbor Biyird) for the able way in which ho arranged the outing.