THE GIFT SHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16213, 14 April 1913, Page 7

THE GIFT SHIP.

11.M.5. NEW ZEALAND COMFI HOME.

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON*.

ESCORTED BY PROCESSIONS? BOATS, A PICTURESQUE SCENE. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE BATTLE-CRUISER. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 13. After her long voyage half way round the world. His Majesty’s battle* cruiser New Zealand' dropped anchor in Wellington Harbour yesterday. Many warships of the King’s Navy have dons the same thing before, quietly and without evoking anything more than passing curious glances from passersby. On shore yesterday tho case yras different. It was an event. Thera was a sense of proprietorship deep in tho minds of the 'beholders df the stranger. All looked upon her with a > real porsonal interest. She was “ Our Dreadnought.” Elaborate arrange- , ments had been made to ensure a fitting welcome for the battleship, and the entry into what may bo termed her home waters, even for a brief space of hours, New Zealand could not allow to go unnoticed. At midday peoplo began to flock to--' wards the wharves to board various .vessels proceeding down the harbour to take part in the marine procession. Others repaired to vantage points along the harbour front, on the hills commanding views of the entrance and down along the shore by Seatoun and Worser Bay. By one o’clock between twenty and thirty steamers and ferry, boats had assembled off Seatoun. A strong wind ( was blowing, and the sky was heavily ’overcast, whilo a haze lay . upon the water now and again. The sun struggled momentarily through the clouds, but the vaporous masses quickly closod up agaih, and shut' out tha brightness. • V f THE FIRST SIGHT. Punctually as befitting a well-ordered ship of war the New Zealand appeared, groping her way through the Jjleads. At first Bhe seemed little more. than a huge black smudge, moving'through the haze, an unclean thing on the white ’ flecked waters. 'As she drew nearer, and her hugo hulk could bo studied, tho eye glancing at the waiting flotilla of ships of peaceful endeavour and back again at the grey hull now abeam, conveved some idea of what a firstclass battleship really is.

When the people on tho waiting ships realised at last that the visitor was really with them, there were some attempts at cheering, hut tho strong wind stifled thdse outbursts of sound almost in the throats of the cheerers. Finding vocal displays of their feelings out of order, they settled down to wideoyed watchfulness.

Somewhere off Karaka Bay, the little Janie Seddon lay ahead.. On her was the marshal directing tho manoeuvres of the escorting fleet. Suddenly, one saw the semaphore at work on the Varship. A signal fluttered up to the crossvard and down again,_ a weird shriek came from the warship’s siren, and was answered from other craft. More flags moved up, and the warship, which had been steaming slowly, seemed to dart forward suddenly, as if a huge hand beneath the water had given her a .giant push. ~ , THE PROCESSION. The other vessels fell into something like order. On the starboard side were the Tutanekai, Cobar, Marnroa and smaller craft, and to port were the Hincmoa, Amokura, Duchess, Stormbird and other forry and coastal steam- ' / ers. Abreast of Point Jerningham tho procession was joined by motor-boats and yachts, the latter lending a more naturally lifelike air to tho scene. Tho wind was stiff and tho sea lumpy, so that tho little craft had a lively time. The battleship, still feeling her .wa.v along with tho leadline—for seemingly it is one of tho ways they havo in the Navy to take nothing for granted, hut to find out tho way for themselves—turned in towards the man-o’-war buoy, and the procession closed up. When the Now Zealand had come up with the waiting ships down the harbour and steamed past them, sho looked indeed like a grey sea wolf from tho northern lands, hardly deigning more than th& barest recognition. As she moved; in towards her moorings, a full stern view of her was obtained. She looked for all the world like an old grey duck squattering through the water with a hybrid brood scattered about in her wake. THE VESSEL ANCHORED. Occasionally, a rift showed itself through tho clouds, and bars of sunlight streamed down on the hull with an occasional glint of seine highly polished metal, such as the caps on tho big guns. Then tho white Government steamers, the green and black ships cf trade and the white-winged yachts and restless motor boats were in turn touch* cd by brightness. Tho scene was now more animated and full of interest. More signalling from the warship marked her near approach to tho buoy. Then came a shrill blast from her siren, two huge anchors plunged from her hows, and then a period of silence followed, while tho escorting ships marked time, eo to speak. Mould the anchors hold? A. spreading patch of muddy water appeared around tho battleship, and it was. seen her way was stopped. The anchors held, and presently the ship beiran to swing round to tho wind. _ The ferry steamer Duchess, .carrying ' a largo crowd of Navy League children, with a band, got up to windward, and tho children sang patriotic songs of welcome, tho warship’s band responding. A trumpet, blared, then silenco again. H.M.S. New Zealand' lmd coma home. Some of the escorting vessels circled about tho big ship to give their passengers a nearer view of the' huge floating form with its great 12-inch guns peeling out of the barbettes, each a picture of innocence behind its dazzling muzzie cap. Occasionally cheers were exchanged between the warship and the pasftng craft, while here and there the crowds lining the different wharves took v.p the erv spasmodically, and then gradually the spectators, after gazing long and curiously at this youngest'of evidences of i lie might of Britain contributed by the youngest Britain cf them all, made their wa.v homeward. OFFICIAL VISITS. A few gathered at tho rr.aiv-o’-waf steps to sea Captain Halsey land, as ho went to pay an official visit to tlio Governor, a littlo latar. His Excellency returned the visit, and shortly after the booming guns announced that the King’s representative had left ths ship. Tho Janio Seddon ferried a ministerial party out, and after that ciyio and Harbour Board representatives paid official calls on Captain Halsey, and Wellington’s formal welcome was over. There, were no speeches at these visit*.