AMERICA AND NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11280, 25 January 1900, Page 6

AMERICA AND NEW ZEALAND.

EXCURSION TO BLOW HOLE BAY.

COMMANDER TILLEY ON THE ERA OF FRIENDSHIP.

SPEECH BY THE AMERICAN CONSUL.

OUR GROWING TRADE WITH AMERICA.

At , the invitation of the Acting-Mayor of Auckland (Mr. A. Kidd), Commander Tilley and the officers of the United States transport Abarenda, accompanied by Mr, Frank Dilliugham, American Consul for New Zealand, and Mrs. Dillingham, enjoyed a drive yesterday to the new tourists' route at Blow Hole Bay. It was the desire of the Mayor (Mr, Goldie), who is now recruiting at Cambridge, that the feelings of kinship entertained throughout New Zealand, and more particularly in Auckland, towards the people of the United States should be publicly evidenced on the occasion of the visit of the Abarenda, and Mr. Kidd, to whom it fell, as Acting-Mayor, to entertain tho visitors on behalf of the city, decided on a trip to Blow Hole Bay, and was so successful in carrying it through that the American visitors cannot leave our shores with other than the happiest memories of their first visit to Auckland. The company, in addition to the Acting-Mayor, consisted of Commander B. F. Tilley, Assist-ant-Surgeon E. M, Blackwell, Assistant Paymaster Chas. Morris, Naval Cadet J. A. Hand, Boatswain N. E. Olsen, Warrant Machinist G. L. Russell, Mr. Frank Dillingham, American Consul, and Mrs. Dillingham, Mr. W. J. Napier, chairman of the Harboui Board, Mr. J. H. Witheford and Mrs. Witheford. Messrs. Salmon, Sticlibmy, and Hewson, Miss Kidd, Miss Clutsoii. Mr. Thomas Ussher, and representatives of the press. An early start was made, a brako leaving the Queen-street Wharf at six a.m. At Avondale the company divided into two smaller brakes, furnished by Messrs. Andraw, Sons, and Co., and drove from thence by tho new West Coast Road to Nihotupu, where a halt was made for breakfast, purveyed by Mr. and Mrs. Ellingham, of the Nihotupu picnic grounds, in a style which would have done credit to the best of our city hotels, and which was altogether a surprise to the visitors, who were almost, without exception, making their first journey over this practically unknown route. There was no other halt till Mr. A. Ussher's house, " Sea View," Blow Hole Bay, was reached, shortly after noon. The weather was perfect, and f .he drive through miles of beautiful nativo bush was much enjoyed. Tho country covered in a drive of some 50 miles is exceedingly picturesque, and somo marvellously pretty glimpses of Auckland Harbour and of the Manukau are to be had en route. The road and the sights of Blow Hole Biiv and its vicinity aro as yet practically unknown, even to Aucklanders, who ought to know them best, but now that this new resort has been brought within easy reach of the city by the new road, and the service of Saturday conveyances, started tho other day, the excursion should be an exceedingly popular one. The visitors rested on arrival at " Sea View," and had lunch before going the round of the sights of the district, which had to be done on foot. Unfortunately time did not permit of a visit to all the wonders, but the party were conducted by Mr. Ussher to the great "Gap" at Blow Hole Bay, viewing the Lion's Rock in Piha Bay, and the marvellous blow hole in Blow Hole Bav, described in the Hebald on January 16, in connection with the first public excursion over the route. A number of the visitors enjoyed a bath in perfectly still water, within 20ft of the huge rollers dashing through " The Gap," with fearsome force. The day was an unusually quiet one, and the waters of the Pacific rolling into "The Gap"' were not seen at their grandest, but the p.irty saw sufficient to make them wish that time had permitted of more than the hurried look round the bay with which they had to be content for the day. A start for'home was made at four p.m., and on the homeward journey another halt was made at Mr. Ellingham's, and an excellent dinner served.

1 The Acting-Mayor gave the toast of" The Queen," stating that on that day they would drink the toast with the greatest enthusiasm, for they began the day with good news of our troops in South Africa, which he was sure was heartily welcomed by everyone present. (Applause.) Mr. Napner gave " Tho President of the United SUtes." Hi? said he did not need to commend the toast to an assemblage of English-speaking people. The President of the"United States was the bead of the more numerous branch of the English-speaking ; race, and all English peoples now recognised : the broad and solid fact that there was a ' complete unity and almost a fusion of the I two great branches of the family. (Ap- | plnuse.) : Tho Acting-Mayor gave " Our Guests." He said it had been a great pleasure to him to entertain Commander Tillev and his officers, and Mr. and Mrs. Dillingham. The I good fellowship existing between America ! and England at the present time was a ! matter on which he held very strong views, and if th i little entertainment he had given that day had drawn them one little tittle closer together, he had accomplished all he wished for. (Applause.) He hoped this would nut be the last occasion on which thu Abarendi would visit Auckland, ann* should it be in his power to again welcome Commander Tilley and his officers, lie would be exceedingly happy to do so. He coupled the toast with the names oi Commander Tilley and Mr. F. Dillingham, United States Consul.

The toast was heartily pledged, the company singing, "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows."

Commander Tilloy said the people of the United States had been for many years looking with most kindly interest towards these southern colonies, but America and tli-ise colonies were so fur apart that they had I not known much of each other. During the past two years, however, America had advanced towards Australasia, and now tl.t-v were really neighbours, so that tbev could call on each other. (Applause.) He was glad it had been his duty, as 'eninr nav.il officer in these waters, to call at Auckland. and it would always be a source of pride ] and pleasure to him to come to the port | in command of a ship. He had during his I life been occasionally entertained by Royal I personages, but he had never been inter- ' tained more royally than in Auckland. TJic entertainments that had been given to him and to his officers in Auckland had teen most cordial. He had been taken itbont the city, had been shown the threat manufacturing places in Auckland by many leading i citizens, and had been entertained i'l their j private houses, and that day the Acting- ■ Mayor, acting for the city, iiad given them | a delightful entertainment—not a .stiff of- j ficial function, but a real good time. This J kind attention, while hi , enjoyed 11 person- ' ally, and while he wished to think the ! Acting-Mayor for himself and for L's officers, he regarded as a greeting to the people of j the United States from the people of Auckland, and from the people of New Zealand. ! {Applause.) There had been niisnnder- i standings at times between hngland (nd the '■ United "Stales, but, he believed, Lat during { the last 30 years, no .matter what noise had been made, war had been impossible. (Applause.) Political leaders and ambitious men may have tried to involve the countries i in war.'but it was his firm belief that the j people would never have allowed it. Up- i i plause.l And within the List two jears, | I when America was in trouble, and perhaps | I threatened by various nations—'hey were i i certainly not friendly in their attitude--j England extended practical sympathy in I many acts of kindness, and she held up a I warning finger tc three Powers, that were very jealous of anything America might | achieve in that war. He be.*Vved that the j era oi friendship which was inaugurated ( by that advance on the part of England— and which America fully reciprocated to-day —would nevei end. (Applause.) The great trouble was that they had not known each other, but they now understood each other, and as they came closci togetbei, and aa America reached down to these colonies, they would have opportunities of beinj better triends, and that friendship would strengthen as time went on, and would last for ever and for ever and for ever. (Applause.)

Mr. Dillingham said this delightful outing, together with many other outings of a similar nature, during the visit to Auckland of the American s.s. Abarenda, must necessarily result in much good to both this colony and the United States. The many courtesies which had been extended by Aucklanders to the commander of the Abarenda during the past month had been not only pleasant to Commander Tilley, but had afforded him an opportunity to observe the resources of . Auckland and the people's methods of transacting business. As remarked on a similar occasion, the establishment by the United States Government of a coaling station at Pago Pago, and the equipment of the same meant much to' Auckland and to the colony of New Zealeand, more, perhaps, than the people of New Zealand realised at the present time. It meant, eventually, at least, a greatly increased trade with the States, which had been growing enormously during the past decade and more particularly during tlio past three years, the imports from and the exports to America having, during the latter period, almost, if not, quite, doubled. (Applause.) In 1888 the imports from America amounted to £323.069, and in 1397 they had jumped to £628,044. The New Zealand exports to the States for the year 1888 were £766,199, and for 1897 the/were £1,026,223. The year 1899, however, whs the business year, the total tradebeing about £I,7oo,ooo—about eight million of dollars. New Zealand wanted America's manufactures; America wanted New Zealand's kauri gum, and the- more the hotter; in fact, all appearances indicated that the year 1900 would be the premier year in the exports to America of thin most' wonderful product. America also wanted New Zealand's wool, the more the better, and they wanted New Zealand's flax, especially as a' Yankee genius had recently invented' a machine which would successfully treat it—a machine for the invention of which the New Zealand Government had long offered a bonus. By the interchange of the commodities of the two countries, both America and New Zealand would he benefited. In connection with the coaling station before referred to, he desired to impress upon New Zealanders the importance of having a better mail sen-ice between this colony and San Francisco. (Applause.) Admitting, as he did, the loyalty of Aucklanders to the Sun Francisco sen-ice, he was bound to say that there was altogether too much apathy shown in the matter of securing a better and faster service. His friend, Mr, John D. Spreckels, of the Oceanic Steamship Company, a .business man of many years standing, was ready, and had been ready for years past, to give New Zealand as good a service as could be found in the Atlantic trade, provided New Zealand would meet him half way. If they gave Mr. Spreckels a good subsidy, a good contract, covering either five or seven years, he will (jive in return a service that would bring to, the beautiful colony of New Zealand thousands of Americans, who had wearied of the hackneyed routes of Europe, and once diverted to this wonderland this trade would mean thousands of pounds to New Zealand annually. What New Zealand wanted above all things-was advertising. In main- parts of America the colony is practically unknown. During his lesidence in Auckland he had endeavoured io bring New Zealand more prominently I'efore his people, and in this he had, he thought, been partially successful. Many of his American acquaintances and friends had already been tn New Zealand, and more were coming. Especially would this be the case when New Zealand had given, as he knew she would give, Mr. Spreckels a good subsidy for five or seven years for a first-class, up-to-date mail and freight service to the States. Incidentally 'in connection with this matter, he wished to return to his friend, Mr. Wilheford, his sincere thanks for his rrrcat efforts in the premises. That Mr. Witheford's efforts would be crowned with success he had no doubt, and it that were the case it would mean much to New Zealand as a colony, much to New Zealanders as individuals, and would do much to strengthen and cement the ties of friendship which existed to-day between these two people who were born of the same mother, and whose interests are. in a very great measure, dependent upon each other. With one of the most beautiful countries the sun ever shnne upon, or God ever smiled upon, peopled with beautiful women and stalwart men. New Zealand as a colony must come rnpidlv to the fr<'!it as one of the marvels of tlie Southern Hemisphere, and no one more earnestly pravcd for an earlv consummation of this than he. (Applause.) He desired personally as a citizen of the United States to return to the Artinir-Mayor of Auckland his sincere thanks for the very pleasant outing. ll>' appreciated the courtesy, not only because lie was satisfied it was done- out of good feeling for Commander Tilley and his officers as well as for the country he (Mr. Dillingham) represented in New Zealand, but because he felt that so much had been (lone for them in Auckland that thev would be worse than in.crntes if they did not appreciate it, and on behalf of America ho. as the representative of that country in Nw Zealand, returned his sincere thanks. (Applause.) Commander Tilley gave "The Health of the Aetine-Mavor of Auckland," eoncrratnIntinc Mr. Kirld on the entire success of the d.ny's arrangements. The toast was lienrtily pledged the company singing "For He's a JnllvGnod Fellow."'

Mr. Kidd, in responding, snid it had been a pleasure to him to entertain the officers of the Abarenda, and if the entertainment had been it success it would also be a pleasure to the Mayor, who would have been present but for illness. Although the Mayor was laid aside throiiL'h illness, it was his desire and expressed wish that he (Mr. Kidd) should entertain the ofl>ors of the Abarenda in his stead. Mr. Kidd paid a, personal compliment to Cntnmnnder Tilloy and his officers, and expressed the wish that Auckland would see more of the same stamp, nnd he was satisfied thev would not leave onr shores without being hospitably entertained.

The toasts of "The Press" and "The Ladies" havinc been dnlv honoured, the companv resumed their journey, and reached Auckland at a-qnarter to ten o'clock, after a day's oulim,' which one and all thoroughly enjoyed.