THE NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15292, 3 May 1913, Page 8

THE NEW ZEALAND.

; FOURTH DAY IN PORT. 1 CIVIC LUNCHEON TO MEN. VETERANS' VISIT TO SHIP. ; CHILDREN ON BOARD. The fourth day of the stay in Auckland . of the battleship New Zealand, was some- . what marred by the inclemency of the 3 weather yesterday. A cold wind, accom- • panied by rain, prevailed throughout the ' forenoon. In the afternoon the conditions [ improved slightly, the rain being of an ; intermittent character, with occasional > bursts of sunshine. '< There were 110 formal fixtures for the 1 officers in the daytime, but a number were entertained at a " smoker" in the evening by the Garrison Officers' Club. Captain Halsey and several of his officers were ashore during the morning and afternoon, when citizens extended their hospitality towards them in various ways. > The men of the battleship's company, - .who had shore leave, were given plenty > of scope for enjoyment. The second batch of between 200 and 300 petty officers and > members of the crew attended the civic ' luncheon .at the Town Hall. Many remained there after the meal, and took ' part in a "sing-eong." The free passes distributed amongst the men for the : trams were also largely availed of. . They patronised the various picture entertainments, both in tho afternoon and evening, i The fact' that the men's monthly pay-day eventuated on Thursday, enabled the sailors to indulge their -fancies for articles displayed in shop windows, and their pur- | chasing capacity was. revealed to various ; ' retailers yesterday. : • • ' , _ Visitors to the Battleship. The state of the i weather did not deter : largo-numbers of visitors from invading and inspecting the New Zealand yester- ■ day. In the morning hundreds of school-! , . children were conveyed by the Ferry Com- , pany to the battleship. The local contin- ; gents were swelled by children from Mamaku,. Katikati, Raurimu, Hamilton West, and other districts, all in charge of responsible persons.; Many children; also, were aboard the warship in the afternoon. They made a very thorough investigation i of the huge vessel while they had the opportunity, the chief delight of the' boys being the big guns, especially those which they were able' to manipulate for them- ! selves. " ; ' \ Empire Veterans Go Aboard. The guests of honour on the New Zea- : land , were 100 • of.. -the i King's Empire • . Veterans, who assembled at the ferry tee , at 2 p.m., andf were taken out in one of the ferry steamers. The veterans were in charge of Colonel R. B. Morrow, Adjutant John Grant, and . Captain J. Stitch- ' : bury. ' • - • Captain Halsey's engagements precluded ' him from being on board to welcome the , old naval:and military men,: but he had , allotted the task of looking alter them' to > his officers. 'The latter entered into this ; hospitable dutjf wilU a . zest, ' seemingly , taking a .pride in seeing -to it that the i veterans missed nothing that was calcu- ! lated to interest them. ' ; ; ; , 1 - The old men were split up into parties 1 and escorted .from one part of the/snip-to' [ another,.; an . officer or r a petty-officer • . accompanying each, group, and explaining 1 the mechanism of the guns, the intricacies of the up-to-date steering and signalling ' arrangements, and' other matters which; 1 would ; otherwise have been obscure. The. enjoyment of ; the" veterans—some of whom , had .travelled long , distances for the occasion—was iv palpable, and they ex- • 'pressed^ themselves in no uncertainmanner in - returning thanks to the officers prior to re-embarking for the shore. ' More of the older members of ' the Empire Veterans had intended to he pre--1 sent,'- but' Were debarred from the anticipated pleasure by the state "of the weather. . The Auckland command of the Legion of. Frontiersmen will visit the New Zealand on i Wednesday afternoon. They will parade at/ the wharf for the purpose at 2.30 p.m. , . \ \ I This morning some 800 children from ' Devonport, Stanley ; Point, Riverhead, ' Putaruru, Lichfield, - Matakana, Tauranga, and Mis* * Bewa's (collegiate) schools will , visit the battleship., The Devonport and ' Stanley - Point children will leave their respective districts direct for the battleship at 10 a.m., while the other children : will leave the " Devonport ferry tee at 10 a.m. The children will spend one hour on. board the vessel.. ' The whole of the children attending the : Northccfca District School are to assemble -J on iihe wharves at Birkenhead and North- 1 cote at 9,46 o'clock on. Monday morning, when a special ferry steamer will convey the pupils to the battleship. : ' ! : 'V.• ■ •.- ' — . — —— . — '. 1

SAILORS ENTERTAINED. AN ENTHUSIASTIC PARTY. A. second contingent of the men of H.M.S. New Zealand, numbering about 250, were entertained; at luncheon in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The big party was a happy one in" every respect, the men entering into the "spirit, of the occasion with the most whole-hearted, enthusiasm and. enjoyment. They give to the luncheon the keen appreciation that is best expressed. by. fast emptied dishes; and when speeches were made their approbation was shown with an enthusiasm in applause and cheers that was most/ refreshing. v.'."' ■ In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. S. J. Nathan, president of .the Chamber of , Com-' merce, presided. Lieut. Cameron sat at his right • Among others " present ; were Mr. W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner), Mr, Maughan Baxnett (city organist), Mr.' H. W. Wilson (town clerk), Mr. W. B. Lsyland, Mr. R. T. Michaels, •"and several members of the Veterans' Association, including its president, Mr. T. Allen. The toast of the King was loyally honoured, and Mr. Beddoe ' proposed "H.M.S. New Zealand." It was, ,he said, appropriate that he, as representative of the greatest of the British Dominions should propose the toast of the vessel which had been presented to the Empire by its smallest Dominion. He felt sure that the vessel and her men would give a good account of themselves whether in peace or in war, and so long as tie Empire was supported by a fleet of such vessels none need fear the result. Lieut. Cameron was a Canadian, a nephew of Dalton McCarthy,. one of the greatest statesmen Canada had ever had, and a member of a family that ' had produced some of Canada's greatest men. Canada's Three Dreadnoughts. Canada, Mr. Beddoe said, was doing something to help the navy. There was a little difficulty just now concerning the question of whether the vessels should bo built in Great Britain or in Canada; but there. were no two opinions in Canada about the principle of holding the Empire together.. The suggestion that Canada should give three Dreadnoughts was merely consistent with the size and importance of a Dominion which in area equalled onethird of the whole Empire. , New Zealand had given a great deal when she gave the battleship. Small in area, New Zealand was large in generosity. (Applause.) The toast i was honoured with the singing -of "Rule Britannia." Lieut. Cameron's Reply, Lieut. who was received with great i enthusiasm, said that he and his shipmates represented New Zealand in New Zealand's ship, k He felt that they owed some return to New Zealand for its great generosity, C and they could try'to make return by .carrying" the name of the Dominion with credit through the world. And into any-, service that might be laid jupoaff^thesn." He was < glad that Canada,

was about to do the .same as New Zealand had done; but they must always look up to New Zealand as having started a great movement for the benefit of the * Empire. (Applause.) - The Veterans' Reception.,. Mr. Michaels proposed " The Veterans' Association," and told the gathering, that Now Zealanders owed more than they might imagine to the veterans, who had won the country from a wilderness. Mr. T. Allen* president of the Veterans' Association, made a happy and humourous speech iu reply. Not one of the veterans, he said, regretted their years of service for their late Queen. They had to some extent shaken the dust of the Old Country from their feet, but they had in some degree helped to build up the outlying parts of the Empire. They still held the same spirit and heart, and if they were only younger they would all be ready to help the Empire again in any work the Admiralty could offer them. ' *• The men were most demonstrative in their enthusiasm at this speech, and when another veteran, Mr. Clarke, recited a poem of his own in commemoration of the battle of Waterloo, the centenary of which is approaching, they applauded and cheered lam again and again. Tho proceedings were concluded by the singing of "The' Red, White, and Blue" by Sir. Allen (the chorus being taken up by the company), and the Rational Anthem. ■ V COMING AMUSEMENTS. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. An elaborate programme has been axraugejl for the entertainment of tho officers and men of the battleship to-day, and should Auckland be favoured with fine weather a most enjoyable day should result. ■ The big event of the day, will be the sports gathering in the Domain, which will commence at 1 p.m. If the weather is fine there will no doubt bo a record attendance, -as every effort has been made to make the programme one of exceptional interest. Special attention has been given by the committee in placing athletic events on the programme in which the . battleship's sailors can take part. In Wellington these events proved exceedingly popular. Included in the sailors' events are leap-frog races, steeplechases, obstacle ■ races, and other events that will create considerable diversion. About 300 of the sailors will come ashore to-day. They will assemble at the Queen Street Wharf at 12.30 p.m., and will march to the. Domain. In addition to the athletJ' events an Association football match wiW be played at 1.20 p.m. between a local team ana a team from the battleship. The seven-a-side Rugby football tournament, which will commence at 2.30 p.m. has been arousing considerable interest,' and the event is being looked forward to. Eight teams will compete, including one team from, the battleship. , ... The visit to Kawau arranged by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Devonport Yacht • Club will also take place to-day. About 30 yachts will take part in the cruise, and they will leave Auckland at 10 a.m. for the island. Eight' yachts will take part in a race to Kawau, and they will be steered by officers from I the battleship. V On" 'arrival at the island a wallaby drive will be held, and this will be followed by a smoke concert in the evening. ' The yachts will return to Auckland on . Sunday afternoon. An entertainment of unusual 1 interest will ' take place in the Masonic Hall, Upper Queen Street, this evening, when the battleship's concert party will present a variety programme, assisted by the New Zealand's band. The entertainment will be held under the auspice/? of the Devonian Society, and the proceeds will go to the sick *and benevolent fund. Yesterday a contingent of sailors from the battleship visited . the Masonic Hall, and transformed the interior by artistic decorations. , A party of 100, men with 10 of the ;; officers _, will visit Rotorua to-morrow by special train. ~ The train will leave Auckland at 10 a.m., and will arrive, at Rotorua at 5 p.m. The party will return "on Tuesday by ' special train, .arriving at Auckland at 6.30 p.m. • '

A MAORI GREETING. FROM AUCKLAND AND HAURAKI natives. 'The Maoris of Auckland and Hauraki have prepared an address of welcome to the battleship New . Zealand, and its officers. The address will probably be presented to Captain Halsey early next Week. Following is the translation of the address mad© by Mr. G. A Hansard, native interpreter :— •' „ ' ' , . "A call of welcome extended to tho'se we regard our : guests from afar. • Following are the words usual and customary to be recited in such manifestations of goodwill :— • "'Advance, 0 visitor from beyond the ' skies, by fmy two . millions called into b InsK, created and brought from the realms 6V f'ie sun. Advance and be welcome. Advance. Advance. ■' * Impel - hitherward the canoo; surge forward the canoe, even to our pillows, our resting places, , for therein is the harbour <fi our canoe.' , "' Advance, O visitor from afar, but the food for your prowess is not here. Far distant lies your surfeit. Be not rebellious, be not boisterous, , bo not obstinate. Lands give rise to deliberation, discussion, and subtle argument. Rewards belong to the gods who guard well thy stores. Set in order the snares, even as did the red matahi; prosecute your searches to the discovery of the hidden purposes of the banded foe; gather enlightenment by the power of intellect, educe, deduce from outward semblance of fact; descend upon, prey, be discreet, be discreet.'" " God' save our King George V. and our Queen, Queen Alexandra, and their descendants. • • V;,.

An Honourable Rangatira. • ."We, being some ,of the leading Maori chiefs of > this district of Auckland and Hauraki, in the Dominion of Now Zealand, do herewith take opportunity to express our felicities, our gratitude, and thanks to the Imperial authorities and I their great council, for the gracious act in sending hither a representative rangatira of honourable distinction, dignity, and knowledge to convey direct- and' guide the noble vessel of war which bears the name of- the land which gave birth to our venerable and honoured forbears, ' New Zea land.' - < . ' 1 . " Beyand measure is- our heartfelt gratitude and pride that the eyes of the Maori race have been so considered that our vision has been gladdened by the sight of the stupendous fort created' to ward off the perils and dangers likely to beset our Empire. A . floating tower of strength to protect us from storms of ' enmity' and' whirlpools of adversity, which are so alarmingly prevalent in these strenuous ] times. - The Treaty of . Waitangl. "Fervent expressions formulate our recognition of the beneficent protection we have received from the wise rule of the Crown of England, now under the reign of. King George V., and dating back to Queen Victoria, when was extended to the Maori race the provisions embodied in the Treaty of Waitangi of February 6, 1840, the substance of that treaty being as follows :— "' This is in witness of the authority of the Queen, which shall prevail throughout the length .and breadth of New Zealand. Guarded by the authority of the Queen of England shall be the Maori race of New Zealand, and they shall be as her loyal subjects treated.' '"This mighty vessel of war now in our waters conveys to our minds the impression that there is a continuance of the goodwill, mana, and authority that has hitherto bound and cemented the fellowship of , the pakeha and the Maori. May this survive for ever and ever.—(Signed) Hamiora Mangakahia, Paora Tiunga, Hoete;Maihi. Ruarangi Maihi, Te . Rahui, ' Moanaroa Parata. '