AHEAD OF TIME !

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 August 1925, Page 9

AHEAD OF TIME !

SOUTHERN SQUADRON ARRIVES

DUNEDIN’S DILEMMA

RECEPTION PROGRAMME UPSET.

(liy TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Aug. 10.

Twelve destroyers and three other vessels of the American fleet arrived off Tairoa Heads at 7 o’clock this morning—24 hours ahead of their time. This necessitated a rearrangement of the programme. Last Tuesday the Mayor was officially notified that the contingent could not arrive before Tuesday morning. Nothing further was heard, and on Saturday the' Harbour Board, through, the American consular representative, wirelessed the flagship Melville that arrangements were complete for Tuesday, receiving in reply the disconcerting news of the earlier arrival. The admiral was informed of the difficulty, and kindly .offered to remafn off the heads, hut in view of the heavy seas outside it was thought better that the ship s should berth, and, the final radio sent last night read: '‘Harbourmaster and pilot at Tairoa Heads 7 o’clock Monday to bring al] vessels to Dunedin wharves. Unfortunately this will militate against a fitting welcome during the arrival. Arrangements had included the prefelloe of 2000 children on the wharves, and many other features to assure a fittingly warm welcome. Only official calls will constitute today's programme.

DESTROYERS ARRIVE SAFELY. DUNEDIN. August 10. At 6.40 this morning lights appeared on the horizon to the south, and the lin e of the fleet heading north was quickly apparent. The line for north, whichc onsisted of long vessels, kept on, and the destroyers for Dunedin fell out and steamed towards the heads. Pilots were awaiting them, and a.t 7.30 the flagship Melville passed in. Other vessels followed at about fifteen minute ß intervals, and at 10.15 the last vessel passed in without the slightest hitch or delay. The heavy sea at the heads had moderated.

WEATHER PROSPECTS FOR

WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. The weather to-dav was showery and cold, but the Government 'Meteorologist, while doubtful as to the prospects for to-morrow, thought there might be an improvement by midday, so that the arrival and berthing of the American warships might be carried out under better weather conditions than prevail to-day. A serious cyclonic disturbance off tlte East Coast of the South Island, however, made forecasting difficult in the absence of information from the Westward. ,