FLEET IN THE WAITEMATA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18706, 12 May 1924, Page 10

FLEET IN THE WAITEMATA.

WHOLE SQUADRON ASSEMBLES. ■'".'■■ T' ; -' : ;'. r: ;'*'l!''- : -"'.^"-v:^ Tl --''?:'■"•'"■'-•■"*'" !:. , I ' v v-" , :/Ai;-- v"".' ■;:'"■-'■''";. '": :"• ':-'. '.y "'".'- ■■"."■';" ' - '■;.'. ■■ ■ :.' '-■."..■ ■'■ .'*"..■''.," ■■-'.:■ <"■.■■'■- ..-: ■'. ■' : '' ' ■ .-, • ■'.-.' i '■. ■'" .' '- '. ..- "■ -'~\- >v"'.; ''■. '.''*:■ • -'" ■-"-:.■ •■■■■ -.•■- ■". ■;':/*;"'■> ■■■•/-. : ■ ■"•■■•.*•. r ' r :-."'.-■:>-;■:';';\-...v.v,v.;:;--•' --■.:'.'..;,■"■■- ■■;.■ %■■ ■ • : .. ■ .■. ; :■ .--. ,-.-- TUMULTUOUS AUCKLAND WELCOME. . MEMORABLE HARBOUR SCENE All units of the Imperial Special Service Squadron are assembled la the Waitemata, the first port in New Zealand to see the whole squadron. The battHe cruisers Hood and Repulse, and the light cruisers Delhi, Dragon and Danae, with H.M.A.S. Adelaide, arrived on Saturday morning. The Dunedin and Dauntless entered harbour at 11 a.m. yesterday and later were moored in the stream. "", Rain gave place to sunshine as the main portion of the fleet came up the harbour on Saturday morning, The grey pall was suddenly lifted from the scene, the sun filled the world with colour again, blanched the wings .of; scores of yachts moving on the face of the waters, picked out the dark masses of people on wharfheads and the sprinkling on buildings and heights, made bunting live again. • Finally, a decoration, sublime of colour, perfect in line, arched the city from Heme Bay to Hobson Bay. It was the rainbow. , Under these auspices the Delhi, flagship of the light cruisers, was seen moving to her berth at Prince's Wharf. The strains of her band were lost in the cheers of greeting. Then, like a long, low : inland of ?6ck; the Hood crept round North Head and swept stately j and slow up the harbour. >It was for her the sun shone brightest. j Scores of launches and yachts and small steamers raced to starboard before, beside and behind her. Then as the greatest warship afloat c neared the wharves siren and steam whistles combined in a pande* monriim of welcome, succeeded by salvo oh salvo of cheers. The greatest cheer of all was for Lord Jellicoe smiling from the Hood's bridge. ■ ' ■■'■' The final scene, of the naval pageant was the coming ;of the Repulse, leading the Danae, Dragon and Adelaide through squalls of ; rain, f These dropped anfcor in the stream. / Tli The civic welcome at the Town Hall later was marked by un« . \ bounded enthusiasm; Three thousand citizens supported the Mayor in* offering the warmest of welcomes to admirals, officers and men. ■ j 1 The first : unofficial visitors to the fleet were school children, who stormed the Hood and Repulse in happy hundreds on Saturday after, noon. The great bulk of the crowd and many sailors attended the sports fixtures.; \;;. * . - _ , t A -> ' - j Special church services were held in all the principal city churches yesterday morning, large contingents from the squadron j attending. "' - •..■■:.-•:':;.'••''.■;■'" "'■',:"■ ■, - • ''*,*.' 1 .; The public were admitted to the battle cruisers yesterday afternoon. A flotilla of small craft carried visitors to the Repulse. At ■ ■ '■ Prince's WnaTi, the Hood had her quota shortly after opening time and the wharf gates were closed. An immense concourse gathered outside < finally forced the gates. It was some time before mounted police were able to stem the rush. The mass of humanity • inside surged round the ship's gangway for about an hour before the extra police summoned got the position in hand. The crowd was , " good-humoured and no one was seriously hurt in the crush. /