FLEET ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 8

FLEET ACTIVITIES.

gffOOD STILL A MAGNET.

MEN'S "AT HOME" TO-DAY.

MANY FRIENDS INVITED.

DANCING ON AFTER-DECK.

TOWN HALL BALL TO-NIGHT.

.- The fever of " fleetitis " reached its height on Tuesday, and the patient, who is all Auckland, is now convalescent, but still, if less hectic, possessing a hearty appetite and healthy interest in all squadron matters.. To visit the Hood is still the objective of large numbers and one that can now be realised in comparative comfort. .Yesterday, at 1.30 there was a queue stretching" from the gangway to the Ferry Buildings, but an hour later the people . had been absorbed by the ship, and it was possible to walk straight on. About 2500 school children from city, suburban, and country schools, some as far away as Te Kuiti and Tauranga, ■visited the Hood yesterday morning, while special arrangements were made for members of local bodies on the Repulse. The Repulse was open to the public yesterday afternoon for the last time, but' the comparative ease of access to the Hood reduced the number* making the trip. The litter vessel may still be visited on Friday afternoon. /

Yesterday's programme included shoot--tennis, golf, and a motor drive for the officers, and football matches for the men..'.,' The ball at Government House in the evening was a brilliant function. A party of 350 from the squadron spent the day at -Hamilton, travelling by special train;-. ;: '•' .

To-day the ship's company of the Hood 'will bo "At Home" to friends. The bluejackets are thus given an opportunity of returning the hospitality shown them, and a very jolly function is being prepared. The chief petty officer has found that the men have made a great many friends indeed and large numbers of tickets have been issued, Tho after-deck will be reserved for dancing, while the mess-decks are being prettily decorated for afternoon tea. - A children s party will be held on the Repulse, while the men will bo ■" At Home" to-morrow afternoon. '.■•' . • . . The chief events for officers to-day are dinner on the Chatham and the Victoria and Navy League's ball at the Town Hall. Eighteen officers will accompany the 250 men leaving for Rotorua this morning."

GOVERNMENT HOUSE BALL ADMIRALS AND OFFICERS. j '.. 'A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. The ball given at Government House last evening -in honour of the admirals and officers of the Special Service Squad>j ron will long bo remembered by Auckland citizens as one of the most " brilliantly successful functions connected with a memorable week. Over 600 guests were present, among those, in the official set being Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Jellicoe, the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe,:- Admiral Sir, Frederick Field, Ladv.Lockart, Me3dames C. J. Parr, Smyth, • Beal, Stringer, S. Allen, Brigadier-General Melville, Commodore Beal, the Hon., C.> J. Parr, and. Captain Parker. Rear-Admiral . Sir Hubert Brand, who arrived , later in the evening, was also among the guests of honour. ; C

The scene in the ballroom during the evening was one of great brilliance and beauty, the full-dress uniforms of the unusually large number of officers of both services providing a colourful setting of blue- and scarlet and gold for the rich evening dresses of the ladies. The ballroom itself was prettily decorated with hanging baskets of ferns, the. walls being festooned with lycopodium and roseshaded lights. : From amid a bower ... of ferns : and palms at the lower end ,of the room the band of H.M.S. Hood rendered a programme of well-selected dance music. ; The drawing room and lounge were: also decorated with palms' and terns, v. with great bowls of autumn flowers making a flare of rich colour amid the greenery. The scene from the terrace was one of

alluring beauty; overhead the clear canopy of a starry night, and against the dark background of the trees glittering .' lines' of electric light enclosing the entire lawn and gardens, where masses of scarlet salvia and dahlias • shone beneath the glowing lights". The evening was ideal for promenading, and the terrace and parterre were thronged, throughout the ■ evening. - ; • '. Supper was served in' the parterre, after which dancing was continued with re- ; newed vigour until an early hour in the morning. ' - •'

FEEDING- A MULTITUDE.

CHILDREN FROM COUNTRY.

OVER FOUR THOUSAND MEALS.

: Well' over 4000 meals have been served to'country children who have visited Auckland to view the fleet. Yesterday no fewer than 1475 meals, with " soft," ■ drinks; were ' handed out in the shed on Prince's Wharf to the little ones. It is estimated : that to-morrow it : will be necessary to supply meals for about 2000 boys and girls. The feeding of the -country school children has been organised by the Navy League, in conjunction with the Education Department. '-•-The : small new wharf building also serves for •, the Navy League Service Squadron Club, which has been specially called into existence for the convenience of men. serving in the visiting squadron. A large number of the seamen have frequented:' the club, and it is computed ■ about 3000 were present on -Tuesday evening. -" ' .■-\. .■ ■'

i BLIND . INSPECT HOOD. %A ; UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. " Residents- of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, by the courtesy of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, visited the Hood at 5.30 p.m. yesterday, and on Tuesday when there were no other visitors on • board. '■ ■-*'• ■■■ ■■•. , .. The- sightless visitors were each provided; "with a separate guide, and each party ef two were soon on terms of complete understanding. The tenderly solicitous bluejacket explained each object of interest probably more carefully and fully than ever before. His explanation was followed closely while sensitive fingers moved over and about the object of interest until the sense of touch had supplied a satisfactory image. : '; All over the ship the couples wandered , taking in the great length, the apparently indless corridors. Everywhere they met with particular friendliness, even from the Baby kangaroo. A collective idea of shape md proportions was gained from the l.hip s. model, which more than anything else placed the various inspections in per- '; epective. It was a unique experience for :,;,: all the visitors and one that will probably live more faithfully in their memory than '-. those of the thousands •of more , fortunate people who have crowded to- see the Hood. &Isms*5 evening the staff ■■ raid residents of the' institute are'. entertaining ;40 men Bi'P^i Dragon. The Light l -.4£mlMJ : Volunteer Band will be included . jjj, ihe party* . '■■ . «