CHILDERN'S FAIRYLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 10

CHILDERN'S FAIRYLAND

PARTY ON THE REPULSE.

A MEMORABLE OUTING.

FASCINATING ATTRACTIONS.

The transformation of a grim, grey battleship into a children's wonderland is indeed a matter for strenuous waving of the fairy wand, but this magical process actually took' place in Auckland yesterday, when a wonderful party, attended by nearly a thousand boys and girls, was given on H.M.S. Repulse. It was, without shadow of doubt, the largest and most delightful children's party ever given in Auckland, and those who were lucky enough to receive invitations will never forget the thrill of that long afternoon of sheer delight.

Young Auckland—and its parents, too knew something good was in store when it lined up in a crowd of over 1300 children and adults on Queen's Wharf, to board the special ferry boat which left from the tee. The Repulse, gaily decked with flags and bunting and red and white awning, was the magnet for every eye in the brief five minute-run to the side of the great ship, and excitement ran high as the ferry boat came to berth alongside the quarter-deck. The music of a band, somewhere abovg, the sight of great chutes and toboggans mounting high into the sky, and the sound of mechanical contrivances getting into action, with sailors standing by, put a keen edge to glowing anticipation, and in a moment the children's invasion was in full swing. They tore down the decks, with shouts of delight and wonder, followed with hardly less eagerness by the grown-ups.

Thrills and Adventure. What to see first! that was the question. A large notice board at the top of one of the companions announced an enthralling assortment of thrills and unique adventure, in the form of a roundabout, flip-flap, chutes, joy-wheel, aerial railway, a haunted grotto, rocking ladder and the " mushroom." No wonder the little ones paused spell-bound, irresolute in the face of such limitless attractions, all seemingly brimful of delight. The rocking ladder, a stairway without a rail, jerked into continuous motion by a small electric motor, caught the eye of the youthful invaders first, and up they went by the score with yells of delight. Up they climbed, racing along decks, up more companions, until at last they stood high on one of the topmost decks, at the head of one of the most wonderful attractions of all. This was an immense chute, constructed of wood and canvas which stretched clear down to the lower deck in a succession of steep dips. At the bottom was a great pile of canvas cushions, filled with cotton waste, guarded by half a dozen sailors, into which the intrepid "chuters" came hurtling . down at express speed. Down they came, two. and three at a time, seated on stout canvas mats, shrieking with delight, as they whizzed "down the straight" and shot head over heels into the protecting cushions at the lower end.

Another exciting adventure was a flight down a steep canvas chute, closed in like a funnel, with sailors' at the lower end to hold the mouth open as the youngsters came careering down from aloft. One or two venturesome spirits came down head-first, and the expression on their faces, half frightened, half triumphant, was very comical as they emerged, and the sailors hauled them out and stood they right-way up on deck again.

"Flip-flap" and Aerial Lift.

Round on the other side of the boat deck ! was an amazing contraption designated ; the "flip-flap." The "bang-crash" would perhaps have been a more appropriate name, however, for the noise of it echoed throughout the ship, and people on ferryboats passing on : the other side of the Repulse craned their necks with eager curiosity, wondering what manner of fun might be going on beyond their sight. The flip-flap consisted of two long wooden gangways, jointed together, and worked alternately up and down, see-saw .wise, by .ah electric motor. On each gangway was a little trolley-line, and up and down it ran a car filled with children and attendant sailors. It was a somewhat strenuous form of enjoyment, however, summed up as "whizz-rattle-and-bump." by one onlooker. A milder orm of enjoyment, yet even more thrilling in one sense, was provided "in the aerial lift and railway, which were gaily-decorated wooden cages swung from one of the great derricks, in which the children were hauled aloft to an elevation of v nearly 100 ft. Sailors went up with every party, holding the tiny children in their arms with solicitous care, reassuring those whose courage turned to dismay as they looked down on the yawning depths below. The Haunted Grotto. But probably one of the most wonderful features of the whole afternoon, for the more venturesome was the haunted ! grotto, a mysterious place where one wandered in . Stygian darkness, with queer noises sounding in one's ears, unexpected twists and turns, sudden ghostly blasts of air, a pathway that rocked and surged dizzily under one's, feet, and at the end, a steep chute, down which one tumbled pell-mell into daylight. Milder joys there were in plenty, a revolving joy-wheel with seats attached, in which one was lifted high up into the air; a beflagged merry-go-round where the steeds were fascinating little canvas boats, and the "mushroom," another revolving affair with sloping sides, which gained speed, and sent the venturesome riders flying topsy-turvy into the wellcushioned sides.

Afternoon tea, served under a gay awning on deck, brought a temporary lull in the whirl of excitement, after which the fun waxed fast and furious once more, waning not until the deepening shadows of night brought the long afternoon of joy to an end. From start to finish, the party had been an overwhelming success. Every member of the ship's company, from commander down, gave himself up to the entertainment of the guests, and the watchful care and solicitude of ' the sailors for their little charges was one of the most delightful features of a delightful afternoon. " More thrills than in a hundred circuses!" was the comment of one guest as the day drew to a close, and that expressed in a few words the outstanding impression of one of the most novel and enjoyable children's entertainments ever given in Auckland., Among those who shared the joys of the afternoon were the Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe, the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe and the younger children, who took an active part in the fun, even Her Excellency mounting the joy-wheel and taking a flight into the air with the Hon. Prudence and little George.

NAVAL YARD INSPECTED.

ADMIRAL FIELD'S VISIT.

An official visit was paid to the Devonport naval yard yesterday morning by Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, who was attended by his flag lieutenant. The inspection was made by the vice-admiral and Commodore Alister Beal, who wert accompanied by Captain ..': Sommerville, Commander Miles, of H.M.S. Philomel, General Melville, and Lieutenant-Com-mander Edwards, of H.M.S. Chatham. Particular attention was given to the training facilities for the New Zealand naval . forces, the boys being inspected when undergoing instruction. The party went over the Philomel, the various engineering departments, the playing field and the sick bay. The inspection, which occupied an hour, was followed by luncheon on i board the Chatham.