THE JAPANESE WARSHIP TSUKUBA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE JAPANESE WARSHIP TSUKUBA.

The above vessel left our harbour on the 17th April, after lying here since the 21st March. Her visit has been a pleasant one for the citizens of Auckland, and we trust it has been so also for the officers and crew of the vessel. There has been no single instance that we have heard of of disorderly or unruly conduct on the part of any of the sailors, although they have been on shore in large numbers. In this respect, and in abstaining from drinking, they have set an example to the sailors of British ships. Apparently they have spent their money in purchasing nick-nacks and curiosities to take home with them. They have been engaged in rowing and shooting competitions during their stay, and all these have been gone through with just about as much pluck, determination, and good humour as if the men had had the good fortune to be born in that tight little island of which we are all so proud. The officers have employed themselves in visiting our local institutions of all classes, such as the Law Courts, the Hospital, Gaol, Grammar School, Girls' High Sohool, etc. We think we can also claim for the people of Auckland that they have shown all possible courteay and respect to the Japanese.

Captain Ariji, entertained His Worship the Mayor, the Mayoress, also the Town Clerk, Mr. _P. A., Philips (Mrs. Philips being unavoidably absent) at lunch on the 16th April a la Japanese, and took the opportunity to ■ thank the Mayor and the officials of. the city for the courtesy and attention which they had received during their visit.

The ball given by Captain Ariji'and the officers of the Japanese warship Tsukuba on April 10 was an unqualified success. The weather was fine and the sea quite calm. On. board no trouble was spared by the officers of the vessel in making the arrangements for the entertainment of . the .guests complete in every respect.' On leaving Major Sheppard called for three cheers for Captain Ariji and the officers of the Tsukuba, which were given most heartily. The cheers were retaroed lustily by the officers and men of the ship. . The announcement that on April 12 a rowing contest was to take place between a, crew selected from the Japanese man-o'-war Tsukuba and one from our local Naval Brigade had the effect of bringing a very large gathering .to the Queen-street Wharf. The arrangement made for the match waa as follows: —There were to be two races; first, the crews were to pull in their own boats, and then for the final race; they were to • exchange, as by this means it was considered that a true decision wonld be arrived at as to which was the best crew, as .it was thought by some that the man-o'-war possessed a better boat than their opponents, and vice versa. In the first course the Navals came in the winners by lm. 40s. A few minutes' rest, and the crews changed boats, and after getting themselves settled, they pulled to the starting point. The Japanese landed the winners with 25secs, to spare, amidst great cheering from the crowd on the wharf. In the evening the Naval Brigade entertained their opponents to a well-served dinner at McKeown's rooms, Queen-street Wharf.

On April 16 the Secretary of the Ponsonby Regatta Committee received a token of friendship from Captain Ariji and officers of H.I.J.M. Bhip Tsukuba, which was as welcome aB it was unlooked for. At the close of the regatta on April 14, the usual hearty and cordial parting took place between the committee and the Japanese visitors who were on board the flagship on that occasion, but the representatives of the Empire of Japan did not intend to allow the Auckland citizens to outdo them with kindness. During the afternoon of April 1G the Secretary of the Regatta Club received a scroll from the < ship, written in the Japanese language, accompanied by a roll of a peouliar kind of silk cloth, the manufacture of looms in Japan. A rifle match took place on April 9 between two teams (fifteenmen each) —Auckland City Guards v. Japanese warship Tsnknba. The conditions of the match were :—Ranges, 200, 400, and 500 yards; seven shots at each range. Captain Ariji, of the Tsukuba, was on the ground throughout, and took a lively interest in the match. The following are the scores :—City Guards, 1071; Tsukuba team, 7,42. At the conclusion Captain Ariji asked Captain Isaacs to call up the volunteer who htd made the highest score, when Captain Isaacs introduced Coloar-Sargeant Hay to the captain, who presented him with a very handsome present enclosed in a package. The package bore a Japanese inscription, also the Japanese national colours. On being opened subsequently it proved to oontain two very magnificent porcelain vases. Captain Isaacs, of the City Guards, proceeded on April 17 on board the Tsukuba, and in the name, and on behalf of his corps, presented Seaman C. Kamakami, the highest scorer in the contest at the Mount Eden range, between the City Guards and a Japanese team, with a handsome silver watch, (Waltham) and chain. Captain Ariji had the whole team paraded on the deck when the presentation was made. Seaman Kamakami'returned thanks for the gift, and the team expressed their acknowledgments to Captain Isaacs for the kindness and handsome treatment he and his men had extended towards them. Captain Leßoy proceeded to the ship on the 17th April, jast before her departure, with the porl;raits of the two crews, forming a beautiful group, which he presented in the name of the Naval Artillery to the captain of the Tsukuba, together with an address. Photographic groups of the officers of the Naval Artillery were also presented to the officers of the ship, who in turn sent their photographs to the Auckland Naval Artillery officers. On the 17th April the Japanese warship Tsukuba left Auckland for the Kawau, for the purpose of enabling the officers to spend a few days there. Sir George Grey and Mr. R. Isaacs were on board. The vessel reached the Kawau in the afternoon, where Sir George Grey was liberal in his hospitality to the strangers. During the stay at Kawau various kinds of entertainments were got up, and heartily enjoyed by the Japanese. On the 20th April the vessel was off Waiwera, and an entertainment was given on board as a kindly parting to Mr. Isaacs. He was invited f;o bring any friends of his who were staying at the hotel off to the ship.