“GREAT GREY SHIPS.”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 August 1925, Page 3

“GREAT GREY SHIPS.”

COME IN WITH BANDS PLAYING. AND CROWDS CHEERING. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The squadron presented a line spectacle as it came up the harbour in line. The sun shone out brightly in great contrast to the recent wild spell of weather. Two days of hitter cold, however, had left a mantle of snowon the ranges on the east side of the harbour, and though the wind had changed from the south, it had a keen edge from its .passage over the Rimutakas and down the Hutt Valley. The great grey ships of war and the white-painted hospital ship moved steadily ou with bands playing. There were 'occasional bursts of cheering from shore and harbour steamers, especially from the school children afloat and marshalled at various vantage points ashore, while the planes circled overhead or speeded here and there in orderly formations from-which one would occasionally detach itself to cause the spectators to catch their breath as it looped the loop, dived or performed other hairraising tricks These craft as they turned and twisted aloft seemed turned to silver at intervals as the sun struck the bright metal fusilageg. When all the ships had reached the stream, the Seattle came to berth at the King’s Wharf, the Pennsylvania and another small ship sharing the berthage there, while the hospital ship went to the Civile Quay wharf. The rest of the squadron took up anchorage in the .stream. While this was doing the seaplanes ceased flying, came down in the harbour, taxied to their respective ships and were hoisted aboard. Commodore Beale, of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, then paid an official call on Admiral Coontz, after which the Admiral visited the Governor-General. Afterwards visits were exchanged with, the Gov-, eminent, Harbour Board and City Council. The civic reception takes place at 5 p.m. and in the evening the Admiral and his principal officers will be the guests of the Governor-General at dinner.