AMERICAN VISITORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 8

AMERICAN VISITORS.

THE OFFICIAL LANDTNG. : - -NAVAL SALUTES'; FIRED. GUESTS. OF . GOVERNMENT. (LEAVE FOR ROTORUA TO-DAY - - ' I.:. \ r ' Our. excellent neighbours in the Pacifio '•* . was the happy phrase which the Hon. C. J. Pair,. Minister for Education and Health, applied to Captain Edwin T. '. Pollock, U.S.N.,' Governor of American Samoa, and the members of his staff who landed' at Auckland "yesterday from the United States naval vessel Ontario and were cordially welcomed on all, sides. -' • • The Ontario, which is stationed at Pago Pago, and used as a patrol vessel in the American possessions in the. Samoa Group, arrived in the Waitemat-a on Sunday 1 morning and lay in the stream until yesterday. ' At eight,o'clock yesterday mornins bier gun salutes were exchanged between the Ontario, and H.MS. Chatham and the forts at North Head. At .10 a.m. Mr. K. de G. MacVitty, American Consul at Auckland, paid an official visit ■to the visiting vessel, and as he left Jo come ashore with Captain Pollock and his staff the Consular salute of, seven guns was fired. The. officers accompanying Captain ."Pollock ashore were Ins aide, Lieut H. .. Ertz, commander of ' the . Ontario, Lieut. Mullen, paymaster, _ and Lieut. Humphreys, surgeon. The visitor,? were met at the offices of the American Consulate by Mr: Parr, ,who welcomed them on behalf of the. ..Government and people of New Zealand, , and intimated that it was the desire of th* Government that they should ; bo the guests-of_the Dominion during their stay. Mr. Poit was accompanied by Mr X; D. Gray, ■ Secretary for External' Affairs, and Mr. J Hislop, Under-Secretary v for - Internal Affairs, Mr. H. R Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland ; Harbour; Board, and other callers visited the Consulate during the morning. i , ■ , .r, a A civic reception was tendered, to trie visitors at noon yesterday, and' they were later the guests of, the .Government at a y luncheon at the Grand Hotel . This morning: Captain Pollock ana : Lieutenants • Ert« ■ and , Humphreys ; will leave , for Rotorua. Lieutenant. Mullen, paymaster,-has a great; deal of business in connection with the overhaul; of the Ontario to transact and if this is completed iii time he will also _ make the ■ (ournoy to Rotorua. The visitors will spend Wednesday and Thursday .in .the : • thermal ~ district seeing . the principal siehts in company with. Messrs. Gray ana Hislop, who have been specially conimissioned" tv tho Government to entertain, them. • v While in. Rotorua th ey will have some trolling on the lakes and wiU-prob- '• . ably bo taken along Ilongi s Track to . view the magnificent, bush. .. The party " will return to Frankton on Friday and' will co down to Waitomo to inspect-the. caves, reaching Wellington: on "Saturday after- : noon. -While ,in Wellington the. visitors • - will .have an. opportunity of meeting. tho • Prime Minister and. will leave next ,rues- : day for Auckland, reaching here on .Wednesday morning. • • ff A , T . • Captain "was th© gxisst of Lacly Jellicoo at Government House last even-: - ins-- :