THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19094, 12 August 1925, Page 14

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

GOVERNMENT'S GREETINGS.

SPEECH BY THE ADMIRAL.

NOW A NEAR NEIGHBOUR.

Tho civic reception to the officers and men of tho American Fleet was held in the Town Hall at the conclusion of the round of official calls. Owing to the late arrival of tho fleet, tho function was about threoquarters of an hour late in starting. A guard of honour was provided at the entrance to the Town Hall by members of tho Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, under Lieut.-Coinmiinder R. P. Nisbet.

The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. A. Warnock, presided, having on his right Admiral S, S. Robison and his staff, and on his left Mr. Walter F. Boyle, the American Consul, Sir James Parr, and representatives of local bodies.

Proceedings commenced with the singing of "God Save the King" and "Tho StarSpangled Banner," led by tho Municipal Choir.

In welcoming tho fleet on behalf of tho city, tho Deputy-Mayor said it was well to remember that tho British people and American citizens were all sprung from the same stock, sharers of the same hope, and partakers of the same nature, speaking tho same language, having the same ideals, and tho same hatred of all that tended to discord and led to war among nations

Common Love of Freedom. For many years, Aucklanders had had a feeling of neighbourliness for the United States, chiefly owing to the commercial relations and constant interchange of visits. Thus Auckland felt assured that it was welcoming, not strangers within the gates, but men of common parentage, fellow members' of the great Anglo-Saxon race. They had a common love of freedom, of all that made for the general uplift of mankind, of freedom of speech, freedom of action and liberty to the fullest extent, so long ,as that liberty did not become liconsed to the hurt of others. Surely it was but natural that in such a case they should ever remain bound by the most sacred ties to be strong in united efforts toward peace in the world. In conclusion, he said ho hoped the visitors would carry with them most pleasant recollections of Auckland and its people. Sir James Parr, representing the Government of New Zealand, welcomed the fleet on behalf of tho whole of the people of New Zealand. There were compelling forces keeping and holding the British Commonwealth of nations and the United States together. The civilisations were the same, and New Zealand held and cherished the ideals of integrity, equality and justice which America held so dear. Both nations spoke tho same language, and cherished tho samo litcraturo.

Joint Claims to Great Men. He liked to think that the great men of America belonged to the British as well as to the Americans. America could claim all the English writers just as Britain could claim tho Americau poets and men of letters. Indeed, it was said that there were more statues to Shakespeare and Burns in the United States than there were in the whole of Great Britain. "We regard your navy," he concluded, "as an instrument of peaco and your vi#it as a genorous gesture of friendship, amity and goodwill, and it is a gesture which we heartily reciprocate. The people of New Zealand open their hearts to you and your squadron." A Message of Friendship.

Admiral Robison, who was cheered on rising, said it was difficult to respond properly to the welcome that had been given. "Perhaps," he said, "you don't all know or realise that next to Canada, New Zealand is uow my nearest neighbour. Wc have moved to Tutuila and you have moved to Apia, and we can see each other on a clear day. Tho ships of the United States Fleet, which steamed in to-day, although dressed in more sombre colours than those of the Great White Fleet of 1908, equal it in personnel, and have •> greater tonnage. They carry a message of friendship and goodwill from the people of the United States of America to the people of New Zealand One of your commentators at tho time of the over-memor-able visit of 1908 said, 'Friends to-day, the two nations may be comrades to-mor-row iu tho conservation of their rights and privileges against the possible aggression of the foreigner.' And so it came to be that wo were comrades in the great world war. The world recognises the prowess of tho sons and the sacrifices of the daughters of New Zealand, and so wo now come to you as comrades, treading the pleasant Eaths of peace, and always ready to upold tho right." (Cheers and applause.)

THE AUXILIARY SHIPS.

TWO ARRIVE IN PORT. The eight great battleships which arrived at Auckland yesterday have in attendance upon them a number of auxiliary vessels, and it is only by the assistance rendered by these tenders that the fleet is ablo to move and live as an independent unit. Tho tenders comprise store ships, tankers and a repair ship. For the purpose of tho Auckland visit the battlo fleet had allotted to it the tanker Kanawha, the store ship Arctic and the repair ship Medusa. These vessels were despatched from Sydney aljead of the fleet, and it was anticipated that they would bo picked up again on the New Zealand coast. .When the last of tho lino of eight ships roi nded North Head yesterday they were followed by the Medusa and the Kanawha, both of which took up an anchorage on the southern side of the harbour toward Hobson Bay. There wus, however, no sign of the Arctic, and she had not put in au appearance at a lato hour last night.