A CARNIVAL WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 5

A CARNIVAL WEEK.

THE AMERICAN FLEET. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. As intimated in the Herald yesterday, Messrs. T. E. Donno and T. H.'Hamer, the Commissioners appointed by the Government to co-operate with the Auckland Reception Committee in arranging the programme of welcome to the American fleet, had interviews yesterday with His Excellency the Governor, the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) and the Consul-General for the United States (Mr. W. A. Prickitt), regarding the Government proposals for the entertainment of the Meet when it arrives.

The conference with the Mayor was of lengthy duration, and the' Commissioners (rave Mr. Myers full "details of what the Government proposes to do in the matter.

Certain aspects oi the proposed programme have been submitted to the Prime Minister, together with a suggestion for the extension of the Government programme, and it is expecti.'d that Sir Joseph Ward's reply will be received to-day.

As previously staled, the Government is prepared to spend £5000. invitations are to hi' issued for a national dinner lor about a. thousand guests, including the admiral and officers of the fleet and official personages. An entertainment for the seamen will also form part of the Government share of the expense, and in this they will act in conjunction with the local committees.

The official dinner will take place

on Monday, August 10, the day following

the arrival of the fleet. On Monday after- ' noon there will be a review of the troops of the Auckland provincial district.

PARLIAMENT TO ADJOURN. The Mayor, at the conclusion of the conference, informed a Hkiiai.u representative that both Houses of Parliament would be asked to adjourn to enable members to take pari in the official welcome to the Heel. I'rioi to the adjournment, a resolution 01 welcome to the admiral, officers, and men of the fleet would be passed. Invitations to take part in the official celebrations would also be extended to the wives ami families of members, and to the Mayors of all the cities and boroughs in New Zealand. It is not definitely stated whether railway pusses will be issued to those favoured with invitations, but the Government will be asked to do so.. Mr. Myers stated that it was theSntention of the Government to hurry on the construction of the Main Trunk line so that the gap between the two .sections of the line may be reduced as much as possible by the time the fleet arrives. .'commemorative SOUVENIRS. Among oflk'i matters discussed at the conference between the Mayor and the Commissioners was that of an official welcome by the Prime Minister.

The Government intends to present to President Roosevelt and to Admiral Sperry suitable souvenir* of the occasion on behalf of the, people of the Dominion. Souvenir books, for presentation to each officer and man of the fleet, are now being compiled, under the direction of the- Government.

MAYORAL RECEPTION. The Mayor of Auckland will give an official reception on the Tuesday evening, and this will be attended by the visiting ■ admiral and officers, members of Parliament, and other representative guests. NEW ZEALAND'S WONDERLAND. The visit to the thermal district at Rotorua will last from Wednesday to Friday. In addition to seeing the sights of this place, it is intended to give the admiral and officers of the fleet an opportunity of witnessing some of the native dances and ceremonies, and the Maoris of the district will _ probably be asked to co-operate in this connection. .The town of Kotovua will also arrange for local receptions and entertainments in connection with the visit. - RECEPTION AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. The admiral and officers will rettitn to Auckland from Rotorua on Friday morning, and in the afternoon they will be the guest'.- of His Excellency the Governo. and Lady Plunket at a reception at. Government House. A STATE BALL On Friday. August 14. the Governor will give a State ball. To this it is intended to invite the officers of the British squadron'and American fleet, members of Parliament, Mayor?, members of the City Council, Harbour Board, etc. Whilst it would be impossible to entertain all those ordinarily receiving invitations to Government House, Their Excellencies hope, by a temporary enlargement of some of the rooms, to issue about 1200 invitations to this ball.

RAILWAY PASSES FOR THE MEN. All the meu-of-warsnien of*tho visiting fleet will be permit to travel free on the Auckland railways in uniform. This, it is felt, will afford many of I hem an opportunity of (seeing the country, and of carrying away an impression of New Zealand that they could not otherwise rain. Arrangements will be made by the local committee to fake the detachments of men that land daily for trip.-; round the city and its environs. The committee will also-ar-range to provide, the men with lunch. ENLARGEMENT OF THE DRILL HALL. The Drill Hull lias been placed at the disposal of the local committee, and will probably be the place where the Government dinner will lie held, as it has sufficient space to accommodate, the guests. It is proposed to floor the Drill Hall, and build an annexe, where entertainments for the men can bo held. ' CONFERENCE WITH THE , , CONSUL. SUGGESTIONS BY MR. PRICKITT. The Commissioners, after leaving the Mayor, had a conference with the American Consul-General, and laid before him the details of the Government programme, and also the outcome of the morning's deliberations with the Mayor. Mr. Prickitt will attend the meeting of the General Committee this afternoon, and will probably lay before the committee some information that will be helpful to them in arranging the programme. With regard to the question of money exchange, Mr. Prickitt is of opinion that a general redemption bureau should be es- . tablished in a central building, and that it should be gene-rally known that this bureau will accept American money at the rate of 4s in the dollar, which would be a fair exchange. THE FLEET'S STAY. A FULL WEEK DESIRED. As already intimated, the fleet's stay in Auckland is"officially fixed at from August 9 to 15, a period of six days. The stay .in Sydney will last from August 20 to .August 27, and it has been pointed out

that, this allows five days for the fleet to make the trip from her© to Sydney. It has been suggested that if it could be done in lessas it usually is by the steamers between Australia and New Zealand —the visitors might stay over Saturday, and witness a first-class fotball match.

As the fleet is keeping to a maximum speed of 10 knots during the whole voyage, in order to 'steam together and keep their line, five days is just sufficient for the journey, and is hardly likely to be encroached upon. TO-DAY'S MEETINGS. There will be three meetings to-day in connection with the visit of the fleet. At noon the representatives of the local bodies interested "will meet to further consider the proposed allocation of the funds they are to subscribe. At two o'clock the Harbour Board will consider the report of the special sub-committee set up to consider several questions that come within the province of the Board in connection with the fleet's visit, and.at four p.m. the General Committee will discuss the Government programme and the local programme at the Municipal Chambers. AN INFLUX OF MAORIS. [ ItV TEJ.KGIU I'll.—OWN' "CpI«RKSi , OM)K.VT.] GtSHOEN'K, Thursday. The visit of the American fleet to New Zealand vvateis is interesting the natives of the East Coast greatly, a press representative was informed by a Maori who has recently returned from a visit to the coast. The Maoris, he said, were proposing to migrate to Auckland in fairly large numbers during fleet week.

AUSTRALIAN FESTIVITIES.

ARRANGING THE PROGRAMME. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, June 4. Much activity exists in Sydney and Melbourne in making arrangements tor the festivities connected with the approaching visit of the American fleet. . The Prime Minister, Mr. Alfred Deakin, will preside at the national banquet.