THE NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND.

VISIT TO VANCOUVER.

HEARTY WELCOME ; RECEIVED.

CANADIANS' HOSPITALITY,

During the stay of E.M.S. New Zealand in Vancouver, from July 27 to August 3, the battleship's officers and crew enjoyed the heartiest kind of hospitality at* the hands of the ' residents £of )■ :■■ that city. Advices ;to hand '• by the {mail steamer Makura yesterday show that public officials and private citizens alike laid themselves but to; give the visitors a week 'of pleasure. There were motor rides, ; banquets, sports, a football match, a cricket match, and a general round of sightseeing. In return the New Zealand was open to visitors, and kindly sailors were on hand to explain all the intricacies of the trig guns and various other mysteries, common enough to a warship, but utterly foreign to the man in the street. Searchlights were operated at night, and all. the waterfront was illuminated, and night turned into day. On other evenings the vessel was illuminated from stem to stern, and from the top of her masts almost to, the waterline. Many thousands visited the ship, and an "At Home" was given aboard by the officers. The New ; Zealanders had half the motor-cars in the city placed at their disposal; so that they might see Stanley Park, for which Vancouver is famous. Vancouver is very proud of its park. The New Zealanders were also taken round Marine Drive, a journey of I about 20 miles round Point Grey, with the ocean never more than 50 yards away. j An Expression Of Esteem. I Commenting on the visit, on the day of \ the battleship's arrival, a Vancouver paper said:—"The visit of the New Zealand is a tangible expression, of esteem" from Now Zealand to Vancouver and Canada as a whole. - There is no reason to fear that it will not be appreciated. This mightiest of battleships on the Pacific will be an object of affectionate -interest; from the time she drops anchor in the harbour until she departs for the completion of her 45,000 mile journey around the Empire. Her crew, many of ; whom happen to claim Canada as their natwe land, will enjoy hospitality without stint, unalloyed by any suggestion of self-in-terest. The Mayor and council will be assisted by all leading- public bodies :of the city *in :; showing honour!, to the visitors. There has been no division in the ranks, no lack of spontaneity, in the arrangement of the details rof the welcome. Canadian hospitality •, will be exemplified in the fullest measure during the week and one and all : join in the hope that their stay in this city sby the seaiwill: long remam in the visitors' memories as one of tho most delightful * experiences in the world-girdling tour." , Some of the Entertainments. Amongst the many functions % arranged for the entertainment of the visitors was a dance given by the " Imperial Daughtera of the Empire, and the Vancouver ; garri-< son, at the Imperial Kink. Overhead were the intertwined i flags / of: the ) Motherland and the ' two ; sister \ Dominions, rows upon rows ';.of Chinese lanterns, ;? banners, and bannerettes^: while beneath the white and blade of the conventional evening attire served as a foil to the more i brilliant ; uniforms of the naval and military -officers | and the charming gowns of the ladies, i Hundreds of f citizens who had not the good fortune to receive invitations watched the scene through the windows for hours, never seeming to': tire : of ' following the brilliant pageant. To add to the military and naval appearance of the setting, conspicuously placed along the walls were the names of several British naval heroes of the past, including Drake, Grenville, Frobisher, and Hawke. Captain Halsey and his officers were also guests at 4; luncheon given* in their, honour by the Vancouver Canadian Club. The demonstration of ': enthusiasm " - all through the affair indicated the sympathy: of, the gathering with Captain Halsey arid; his command and the policy which New Zealand's gift to the Mother Country enunciated, Canada's Loyalty Undoubted, ,At this gathering and at other official functions public men reiterated; the loyalty of Canada; and stated that, when the time comes, Canada will ;-;hot be:found wanting. All honour was given to New Zealand fcr ; being the pioneer in giving assistance ■• to / trie Mother Country, and the great gift- she made to Britain, which then lay in the harbour, ; was spoken' ; ; of with as much pride as if Canada had been the donor. Captain Halsey. was mentioned in the newspapers as the " sailor diplomat," and, indeed, his speeches could not have been excelled from the standpoint either-of the bluff seaman or the polished diplomat. The Farewell Scene. When the New Zealand passed out through the narrows, at 7 a.m. on August 3, on the resumption of her voyage, the veteran lighthouse-keeper at Brockton Point' (Mr. Jones) was on duty at his post. ■ As the great battle-cruiser passed ; thei light- j house, he bade ■ those on board farewell! by ringing the fog alarm. ' In response to this signal and the semaphoring of a number of the 72nd High--landers, the hand aboard the New Zealand struck up " The Maple Leaf," and followed, this up by " Auld Lang : Syne." And; so, under as happy auspices m those under which she arrived at Vancouver, the, NewZealand, in the cool of the early; morning, made an impressive exit into the waters of the gulf. ,