OUR JAPANESE VISITORS..

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12002, 26 June 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR JAPANESE VISITORS..

AUCKLAND CITIZENS ENTERTAINED Thk captains and officers of the Japanese ■w-shif.s Hiyei and Kon-go entertained tipwards of 2CO of Auckland's leading citizens and representative men aboard H.I.J.M.S. Hivei on. June 13, the function being one of the most brilliant and successful of its kind ever held upon the waters of the Waitemata. The invited guests included His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd), members of Parliament, chairmen of local bodies, and town clerk, representatives of the legal and medical profession and clergy, and many other prominent men. An 'entertainment was given which evinced considerable interest, consisting of wrestling, fencing, and musical selections. A pleasant and interesting hour having passed in this manner, the guests were ushered into the spacious saloon beneath the quarter-deck, where several tables heavily loaded with refreshments were offered to'them. The hospitality of the hosts was here exercised to the full, each guest being courteously attended to, and made to feel completely at his ease. The needs of the visitors having been seen to Captain Iwasaki claimed their attention whilst, he delivered a short speech, as , follows: -''Gentlemen,—l desire to express , on behalf of Captain Ijichi and officers of j the Hivei and Kongo, and myself, our sense ] of the privilege and pleasure of being able to entertain such distinguished company in such an old ship this evening. Taking this opportunity, I must also thank all the gentlemen present on behalf of the members of both ships for vour good feeling towards us. and for your kind treatment during our stay in this 'port. May 1 ask you to convey the same to the rest of the citizens of Auckland. (Applause.) We are very proud of the treaty just entered into— (loud cheers) —and we highly esteem you as our allies— (renewed cheers)—and we should be so pleased if vou find yourselves that Japan would deserve your alliance. (Cheers.) New Zealand has many sources ol inherent wealth, and Japan should hope that a liberal' exchange of commodities between the two countries should take place. (Applause.) We are exceedingly sorry to leave you so soon, especially some young officers, who have made some nice young ladies acquaintance (laughter and applause)—out we hope we may soon revisit Auckland, and renew our pleasant acquaintances. (Cheers.) 1 am sure it will be one of the greatest records in. our history that two Japanese modern powerful ships in England and tw*> old powerless ships of Japan in Fin, rail have the honour of taking a part in the celebration of the coronation of King Edward VII. (Loud cheers.) Well, gentlemen, you will, I am certain, fill a bumper and drink the toast of "The King of Great Britain and Emperor of India. (Applause. ) . . , All present then joined in drinking the toast, after which a verse of the National Anthem was sung.

Mr. George Fowlds. M.H.R.. in proposing the toast oi "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan,"' said the British people have for a long time taken a very deep and friendly interest in the people of Japan. (Cheers.') The two nations have had a growing relationship for a good many years, and this has deepened into friendship of a very strong kind, the culmination of which, as" you are all aware, was the treatv of alliance between Britain and Japan. Captain Iwasaki remarked that the people of Japan were very proud oi their new allies, and I am sure I am voicing the sentiments of the people and of the Government of New Zealand in saying that we in this part of the British Empire most heartily reciprocate that feeling. (Prolonged cheers.) I believe that the alliance between the two nations will make for the peace of the world—(cheers)—and that it. is in the best interests of the people of the Far East(cheers)not only the Japanese, but probably also the Chinese. I hope the allies,may never be called upon to defend the rights of the two nations in that part of the world by force of arms, but if they are I am confident we shall find a staunch, strong, and reliable ally in our friends of the Japanese nation. (Loud cheers). The people of Auckland have very much « appreciated the visit of our Japanese friends to these parts —(applause) and I am sure that the feelings of regret entertained by those young officers whom Captain Iwasaki spoke of will be reciprocated very largely by the young ladies of Auckland—(laughter and applause)—and as soon as the captain can find an opportunity of bringing them back, I can promise his officers, on behalf of the young ladies, a hearty reception. (Renewed laughter and applause.) Let me express my appreciation of the great character of the people of Japan. They have shown a wonderful capacity for picking out all the best from the civilisation of the West, and of applying it in the East. May they grow and prosper in all that makes for the highest welfare of mankind. (Loud cheers.) The toast was then drunk with musical honours, after which the Japanese officers and midshipmen sang their National Anthem, " Kimigayo Yowa Chionii Yachiyoni" ("Thy Reign is Glorious, and Shall be Everlasting.")

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd), in proposing the toast of " Captains Iwasaki and Ijichi and the officers and men of the Hiyei and Kon-go," said that during their visit to our city the behaviour ot both crews had, been most exemplary, all acting in a quiet and sedate way, which had made it a pleasure to entertain them. It was fully 18 years since Captain Iwasaki and his crew were last here, and since then great events had happened in me world, not the least of which was the treaty which allied Great Britain and Japan. (Cheers.) That our Japanese fr«ads might visit ns more often in future was our sincere desire, and he felt sure that the welcome they had been given on this occasion would ever be extended to them by the people of Auckland, not only because of the liberal nature of that night's entertainment, but because of the friendly feelings we all entertained towards them. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with musical honours.

The remainder of the evening was spent in friendly intercourse, the last of the guests taking their departure at a late hour, all coming away greatly charmed with their hosts' cordial treatment, and with the unique character of the successful function carried out in their honour.

DINNER AT THE AUCKLAND CLUB.

At the Auckland Club, on 14th of June, Captain Ijichi, of the Kon-go, and Captain Iwusaki, of the Hiyei, and a number of officers of both warships, were entertained at dinner by the members of the club. There was a large gathering, and Mr. F. Earl, president of the club, presided. The toasts of "The Emperor of Japan," and " Captain Iwasaki and His Officers" were duly honoured. Captain Iwasaki, in replying, spoke of the pleasure entertained by the friendly feeling between Britain and Japan. Both required to be great sea powers. He stated that Japan had four large, well - fortified naval arsenals, supplied with a certain number of dry docks, capable for mighty battleships, fitted with all necessary machinery required for shipbuilding and repairing. " The warships built and building in the Japanese navy yard were under 6000 tons. Since the Japan-Chino war they had the intention, to build, a number of first-class armoured cruisers and battleships in their own yards, but were obliged to place all orders in the bauds of foreign shipbuilders, owing to the urgent need of having the large ships completed. Besides, Japan had no steel factory or armour-plate factory, and they had to get those articles from abroad. But the former began work six months ago, and the latter will be completed in six years' time. With regard to guns and mountings, they were making all calibres of guns and mountings up to Bin rapid-firing guns, and all kinds of projectiles in Kare Arsenal, and they can start to make 12iu guns when the largo Siemea furnaces were completed. As to the warships, _ they had eight well-armoured and well-protected modern battleships, ranging from 13,000 to 15,500 tons, and six swift . armoured first-class cruisers j of about 10,000 tons, and several fast cruisers and gun vessels, numbering in all about 60. Besides these vessels, they have about two dozen of modern torpedo-boat destroyers, with a speed of over 50 knots, and about 80 torpedo-boats built and building. With regard to the Japanese army, the present active army amounts to 150,000

men, and in time of need cans easily be raised to 500,000 men. , , The Japanese warships Hiyei and Kon-go left for Fiji on June 16. On June 14 and 15 both ships were crowded with visitors from the shore. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. Kiddj was the recipient of a very nicely worded letter, in which the officers of the warships thanked him for the many kindnesses shown them by him during their stay. Mr. H. XV. Wilson, the town clerk, also received a similar letter.

A number of telegrams were received by Captain Iwasaki, of the Hiyei, previous to sailing, including the following from the Acting-Premier, Sir J. O. Ward:—"Wish you a good voyage, and a safe return home."'

Captain Iwasaki has written to the (tovernment thanking Ministers for their courtesy in placing the Government railways at the disposal of himself and his officers, .and also for their efforts in making their stay in Auckland so enjoyable. The captain has also personally thanked Mr. E. H. Montgomery, of the local Government Tourist Department, for his attention to himself, officers, and men. It is the intention of Captain Iwasaki, on his return to Japan, to place before the Emperor the advisability of sending one or more warships on occasional visits to the colonies.