THOUGHT FOR CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19102, 21 August 1925, Page 10

THOUGHT FOR CHILDREN

VISIT TO THE FLAGSHIP, LITTLE HOSPITAL PATIENTS. " JACKIES" ACT AS ESCORTS. Between 30 and 40 crippled and convalescent children from tho Auckland Hospital paid a visit to tho Ainorican battleship California yesterday morning, Tho children, whoso age 3 ranged from three years to about 16 or 17, were brought from tho hospital to tho ship in motorcars provided by membors of the Rotary Club. They wero under the supervision of Mrs. 11. Robinson and three nurses.

Among the party wero soveral children Buffering from infantile paralysis; others were afflicted with diseases of tho bones, while a fow who wero just recovering from appendicitis, wero comparatively sprightly and skipped eagorly up tho gangway. Those who wero unablo to walk oven with crutches were taken care of by tho sailors.

Tho young fellows carried them in thoir arms with as much caro as would any woman, and it was not long before tho party had dissipatod into small groups and disappeared to all parts of the ship. It was a pleasant sight to soe these unfortunate children, many of whom had not been outside tho hospital for years, so obviously happly. Little faces drawn with years of Bufforing lighted up in happy smiles as the amiablo " Jackios" showed them tho various points of interest.

Tho children displayed a keen interest in tho sailors' explanations for they had warriors' hearts even if fato had denied them warrior's bodies. Thoso that were able clambered all over the ship, paying particular attention to tho guna and other warlike paraphonalia dear to tho youthful heart. By tne time thoy had completod their tour of examination thoro was littio worth seoing which thoy had not inspected. While on tho Bhip tho children wero treated to ice cream and were given ribands bearing tho namo of tho warship as mementos of the occasion. The ship's canteen was froely patronised by tho Bailors who purchased many a delicacy to cheer their little guests.

It was a happy group that assembled on the deck to bo photographed, and the photographer found ready response to his appeal, " Smilo, please." Assemblod on the wharf, tho children gave three cheers for tho offlcors and men of the California. Thoy were then motored away very much happier for their morning's jaunt.

PROVISIONS FOR FLEET. THE SUPPLY SHIP ARCTIC. ARRIVAL THIS MORNING. Tho supply ship Arctic, attached to tho American Floet, is expected to arrive from Wellington early this morning. Tho vessel has been visiting, each of tho southern port 3 for the purpose of provisioning tho warships calling at Dunedin. Lyttelton and Wellington. Sho will commence supplying tho vessels in Auckland immediately on arrival.

TAKAPUNA ORPHANS' CLUB. HOME DINNER AND SOCIAL. Fifty petty-officers and mon of tho United States Fleet were last evening entertained by members of the Takapuna Orphans' Club. Members invited two or three each to their homos for dinner, and subsequently overyono foregathered at an enjoyable social in tho Masonic Hall. Items were contributed by Professor Maxwell Walker and Messrs. Wilson, Lithgow, Bruce, Patterson, Massey, Warbrick and Blomfield.

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME. EVENTS FOR TO-DAY. The programme of events for the remainder of the stay of the American Fleot in Auckland is as follows: TO-DAY. Morning.—Free. Afternoon.—Exhibition matches of American football at Victoria Park. 1.30 o'clock: West Virginia v. Tennessee; 3.15 o'clock: Colorado v. Now Mexico. I to 6 o'clock: Bhips in stream opon to public. Evening.—B to 9 o'clock: Searchlight display; 8 to 11 o'clock: Ships illuminated. Auckland Amateur Operatic Society's entertainment for officers. Commercial travellers' social to officers. 8 o'clock: Maori concert at Town HalL TO-MORROW. Morning.—6.4o o'clock: 550 men depart for Rotorua. Afternoon. —Trotting meeting at Epsom. Rifle match at Penrose. Association. Rugby and League football matches. 1 o clock to 5 o'clock: Ships in Btream open to public. Evening.—Entertainments by various social clubs. Concort arranged by city organist for men of tho fleet. REMAINDER OF STAY. Sunday.—Combined parade of naval bands at tho Domain in afternoon; ships open to public, Monday.—Freo. Tuesday.—Fleot sails.

LIONS AS MASCOTS. A WELLINGTON OFFER. [llY TELEGRAFH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Mr. J. J. Boyd, sen., who, through his gift of a lion to the Wellington Zoo, has a half interest in all tho lion families which aro born in ono of tho Zoo enclosures, states that ho is anxious to present two cubs to tho American Navy, ono to the Wellington detachment and the other to tho ships at Auckland. Tho cub 3 belong to a family of four recently bom in tho Zoo. They aro fascinating little things, just big enough to be real playthings and really playful without a trace of vice in their whole make-up. The offer was communicated , to a senior officer of tho flagship Seattle to day and the reply given was that tho Admiral and every officer and man would greatly appreciate such first rate mascots, but it was doubtful whether it would bo possible to aecopt them owing to a rule that wild animals could not be brought aboard. DEATH OF A SAILOR. FALL INTO GRAVEL PIT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The official finding of tho United States Naval Court, which inquired into tho death of Wallace Dale, tho seaman who succumbed to injuries received last week, is that Dale died as the result of a blow on tho head when ho fell into a gravel pit when returning to his ship at night. The doctor on the hospital ship stated thct thero was no injury on tho man's head, but tho hemmorrhago occurred on the day after tho fall and this proved fatal.