Ahead of Time

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 111, 10 August 1925, Page 5

Ahead of Time

AMERICAN DESTROYERS. ARRIVE AT DUNEDIN. (Per 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 time, necessitating 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 Satunlay the Harbour Board, through the American Consular representative, wirelessed the flagship Melville that the arrangements were complete for Tues’.ay, receiving the disconcerting news of an earlier arrival. The Admiral was informed of the difficulty and kindly offered t<> remain off tlie hea ls, but in view of heavy’ seas outside it was thought better for the ships to berth, and a final radio sent last night read: “Harbourmaster pilot at Tairoa heads 7 o’clock Monday. Bring all vessels to Dunedin wharves. Unfortunately this will militate against a fitting welcome during arrival. n

The arrangements had included the presence of 2000 children on the wharves, and many other features assure a fittingly warm welcome. Only official calls constitute to-day’s programme. Later. At 6.40 this morning lights appealed on the horizon to the south, and the line of the fleet, heading north, became quicklv apparent. Tlie line for the north, which consisted of the larger vessels, kept on. and the destroyers foDunedin fell out and steamed toward tlie heads. The nilots were wailing for them and at 7.30 the flagshin. Melville, passed in. and the other vessels followed at about fifteen minutes intervals. At 10.15 the last vessel had passed in without the slightest hitch or delay. The heavy sea at the heads had moderated. AT WELLINGTON TO-MORROW. Wellington, Aug. 10. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs received tho following wireless message last evening from the flagship of the Utiited States fleet :—“Admiral Coontz plans to lead the fleet into Port Nicholson at 11.30 on Tuesday morning.” WEATHER PROSPECTS. Wellington, Aug. 10. The weather to-dav is showery and cold, but tho Government Meteorologist, while doubtful as to the.-'res-pects for to-morrow, thinks there mav he an improvement bv midday, so that the arrival and berthing of tlie American warships may bo carried out under better weather conditions than prevail to-day. A serious cyclonic disturbance off the East Coast of the South Island, however. makes forecasting difficult in the absence of information from westward.