HUGE CROWDS

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 8

HUGE CROWDS

VISITORS TO 3LAGK PRiHGE SMALL BOYS WRECKED PLANS H.M. cruiser Black Prince, lying at Birch street wharf, proved a strong attraction to several thousands of Dunedin's citizens yesterday afternoon, when she was thrown open to the general public. Only about 2,300 of them were able actually to board the vessel, however, and the remainder were obliged-to view as much as they could from the quayside. Detailed arrangements had .been made for the.:orderly'.visiting of the more interesting portions of the vessel, boarding. . aft, /working their ," way for'ard,' and leaving in the "vicinity of the superstructure: Like the best laid schemes of mice and men, however, the scheme went agley, chiefly through the actions of the übiquitous small boys. '. Rather than follow the set course, they invaded the "forbidden areas " and gave full vent to their martial and maritime impulses by finding out how the various items of equipment worked and what ■ happened when they pressed buttons and pulled levers. This ■ was probably very interesting for! them and' provided heaps of fun, but it played havoc with the ar- ' ...: rangements made for the conduct ■ of the visitors through the ship. It had been hoped to conduct about 4,000 persons an hour over the ship. It was impossible for them to go below decks, while the superstructure was so restricted that all that was possible was for the visitors to pass along the deck and then go ashore again. With their usual amiable firmness the members of- the police force had a difficult task in controlling the huge crowd on the wharf alongside the ship, and their numbers, had twice to be reinforced. So great was the crowd that those in the front row were in some cases fortunate in not being pushed into the water by sheer weight of numbers. The action of members of the ship's company in rigging ropes along the wharf side probably averted such mishaps. Black Prince was again open to the public this afternoon.