AFTER FLEET WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13831, 18 August 1908, Page 6

AFTER FLEET WEEK.

DEPARTING VISITORS. JUBILANT SHOPKEEPERS. DISMANTLING THE DECORATIONS. Yesterday afternoon Queen-street was wearing quite a deserted and bare appearance, and it. scarcely seemed .to be the same thoroughfare at all. The soaking rain which s?t in in the afternoon, rendered the prospect quit* dismal, and the brilliant decorations and illuminations Aucklanders had come to almost- look upon as a permanent feature of their city had almost disappeared, while there were comparatively few people about. Here and there a forgotten flag or piece of greenery showed on a verandah post, , and appeared to wonder what it was there for, while lorries and drays trailed along to the destructor with loads of the wreckage of what had been beautiful schemes of decorations. Restaurants and shops and offices settled down to their normal business, and Fleet- Week seemed almost a far-off memory. * The great source of congratulation, of course, was that the heavy rain had kept oft* during the time the American visitors were in Auckland, a week of really glorious weather. The rain' interfered somewhat with the work of removing the larger decorative schemes, and several, including a large part of the arch in Queen-street, yet remain. The banners, which formed such a conspicuous feature in the main street, have all been taken down, and by to-night there will be very little of outward appearance left to remind the city of the gay carnival it was holding a few days ago. Inquiries made amongst wholesale and retail traders yesterday by a Herald representative went to confirm the statements already published as to the large increase in business, all round, during Fleet Week. In some of the wholesale houses there was, curiously enough, a great run on toys. The head of one department in this line stated that he opened his stock' of toys three weeks ago, whereas ordinarily this stock is not opened up until the end of this month. Several warehouses cleared right out of diverse lines. There was a great rush on many of the leading wholesale suppliers early in the week, many country buyers coming in with orders. "They all wanted serving at once, too, that was the worst of it," remarked one departmental chief. On all sides were related tales of a prodigious demand for postcards. In one case some bluejackets went to a wholesale firm with a request to be served with some New Zealand views. "Via. afraid we cannot serve you with what you are likely to want," said the salesman. "You see we are a wholesale firm." "Can't fix me up, eh. Oh, I guess you can. I want about a dozen gross!" The salesman was taken aback, especially when he found that Auckland views were wanted, and that the whole building did not contain a dozen gross of that particular brand. Again, the wholesale grocers and provision dealers were hard put to it to supply ail .demands. The amount of butter, eggs, and bacon consumed during the week was enormous. /Amongst the retail people a large num"ber of extra, hands had to be engaged, and it was difficult, even then, to cope with the additional trade. So many boarders and guests' being in Auckland resulted naturally in much increased hotel, boardinghquse, and private household orders. The turnover in more than one shop was ■ trebled during the week, and the butcher, baker, and milkman were considerable gainers. Fancy goods dealers, jewellers, and drapers report largely increased business, and, indeed, in every class oftia.de the receipts were invariably larger than during normal periods. CREDIT TO ALL CONCERNED. : PRIME MINISTER'S APPRECIATION. ■ The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. A. M. Myers) yesterday received two letters from the Prime Minister, before Sir Joseph Ward's departure for Wellington. \ The first letter read:—"l have the! honour, on behalf of the Government, to ! thank you, as president, and the members j of the Citizens' Entertainment Committee j for the valuable services rendered in con- ! nection with the recent visit to Auckland | of (he American fleet. To the general exe- I cutive of the committee, which so gener- ! ously and cheerfully placed, their valuable j time for several weeks at the disposal of the public, the Government desires to es- I pecially" place on record its best thanks. ] The result of its labours must be extremely j gratifying, and will, no doubt, recompense j the committee for any inconvenience which j may have been experienced in carrying out | self-imposed and arduous duties." 'J he second letter states: —" 1 have the honour to convey to you the thanks of the Governor for the spontaneous assistance rendered by yourself, as Mayor of the city of Auckland, and by your councillors, in. preparing for the reception and entertainment of the Admiral, officers, and men of the America:', fleet. With pleasure 1 formed the opinion freely expressed that the week's 'programme has been carried out in a manner which reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. I am also in a position to state that the arrangements throughout were highly appreciated by our distinguished visitors. as well as by those residents of the Dominion who were fortunate enough to he present on the great occasion." AUCKLAND'S HOSPITALITY. OFFICERS' APPRECIATION. Mr. W. A. Prick itt, the American Consul-General, has received many letters since the departure of the fleet, expressing the appreciation of the officers on the Various battleships at the kindness and hospitality afforded them in Auckland. Among these letters is one from Lieutenant Robert Wallace., of the battleship Missouri, who has written as follows: — " May I ask that, as your time permits, you extend to the French Consul (M. Boetifve) and the other members of the Club Francois, our deep appreciation of the honour done us by the kind invitation to the reunion of the club, held on the evening of August 13, and by the warm welcome extended us there? Words fail us if we try to give expression to our keen appreciation of the welcome we have received here, and our feelings towards New Zealand, for we feel that New Zealand's welcome has come direct from the hearts of the people, which puts it far above price, and makes very precious to us such expressions of welcome as that accorded by the Club Francais in their reunion. "We feel deeply grateful for the manifestations of friendliness toward the greatcountry which it is our honour and very great pleasure to represent, concerning which Admiral Sperry has said: 'Nothing has been overlooked which the heart could desire.' And we fee] that in asking you to convey to the French Consul and the other members of the club our thanks for their delightful entertainment, we are safe in' that the message will lie delivered in far more appropriate terms than we can attempt at .giving it. Also we wish to thank you for your very large share in making our stay here so pleasant. The visit to New Zealand will always live \n our recollections as one. of the brightest spots in the memories of our cruise."