FLEET IN MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13845, 3 September 1908, Page 5

FLEET IN MELBOURNE.

'RAIN MARS CELEBRATIONS. • v PACIFIC MAIL ROUTES. . Telegraph —Press Association.— Copyright (Received September i. 12-45 a.m.) '■?■■&:*''<*'•.:'■:- .:'./.'.:,•.-::v-v'■"*.','."!•> ':r'--':::>i K~ :! iH'^ti^'-'ii^i'i^'"-f Mklhourxk, September 2. Tin: rainy weather continue, considerably ■ ' interfering with the fleet festivities. It' illuminations last night were spoiled... Still large crowds braved the elements, and tlv» indoor entertainments - went off very suecftssluUy. ' - Admiral Sperry, replying this afUvnoon to an address from the Metropolitan Board of Works, said that' tliin opportunity, of tualiltis. closei acquaintance with At.-'i .- lia was in the interest u, the .development of the 'Pacific territories! belonging to the two Powers. : The (stronger Australia made the linos of ccn'iniii.i<:ii.ion ;jo t t only with San Francisco, but with Vancouver, the moie secure would be their position. ; -Not only would Australia by ii;!* route come closer 'to her sister in the Empire, l\> great Dominion of Can.uln, but in (he Rime direction lay the route to a great and es- .. sential neutral Power The route 1 w.if h remove? geographically from assault «nd £0 (secure, that they had a double nui'iii i in developing it, because it gave a secure road to the Home Country, and the shortest ac that. - 1 The- football match for the championship of the fleet, between teams representing :;; the Minnesota and the Kentucky, resulted ■;■-, in a draw. ' . t ■. ■ \.. ; ■ Admiral Sperry and a large continucn' of officers visited the Agricultural Show. ' - ' • ■' -'» •• t "'*• •''