JAPANESE VISITORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 10

JAPANESE VISITORS

DEPARTURE FOR KOBE

SHINTOKU MARU LEAVES SCENE AT KING'S WHARF Bound direct for her homo port of Kobe, the Japanese training barquentine Shintoku Maru left Auckland a few minutes after two o'clock .yesterday afternoon. Although heavy rain was falling at the time, over a hundred Ailoklaiidors gathered at the King's Wharf to give the visitors a rousing send-off. There were many hurried farewells before the gangway was removed and one of the last visitors to leave was the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, who had been on board to officially wish Captain Hayashi "bon voyage." As tho lines were hauled on board and tho tug drew the Shintoku Maru out from the wharf most of the cadets and officers lined the sides of the ship and cheered. "Kia Ora," shouted an officer who had visited Rotorua "Auld Lang Syne" As tho ship passed tho end of the wharf, a cadet gave tho signal and tho crew s broke into song, the tune being the same as "Auld Lang Syne." " Tho words do not mean quite tho same as the Scottish, but, nevertheless, we mean from tho bottoms of our hearts that we are sorry to be going," said a cadet. It was the song of tho Kobe Nautical College. One of the Japanese recognised the Rev. H. K. Vickery, chaplain of the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen, among the crowd on the wharf. Ho shouted something in Japanese, which was followed instantly by a chorus of, " Good-bve, Mr. Veekery," from those on board. From the bows came the strains of a strange Oriental chanty, sung by a score of small but wiry cadets engaged in hauling in the last of the shore linos. Tho song lacked the rhythm of English chanties, but it appeared to serve tho same purpose. A buzzing and crackling from tho radio cabin indicated th.it the Shintoku Maru was calling Yokohama and Kobo on short-wave, advising that she was on her way home. "Good voyage and steady winds," came a message from Kobe a few minutes later. Message from Captain In a farewell message, Captain Hayashi stated: — "On leaving New Zealand waters on our homebound voyage this afternoon, 1 desire on behalf of all the officers and cadets and men of the Shintoku Maru to express our deep appreciation of courtesies extended to us by the Government and the public. Wo were even overwhelmed by their warm friendship. Most of tho officers also happy in renewing their old and delightful acquaintances they made here two years ago. Once again we are going to Carry with us most pleasant memories of your country and people. We always believe that the personal contact of this kind would be invaluable in fostering the better understanding between tho two nations. "As wo realise your most generous hospitality while we were here, we are anxious tc be given some opportunity to repay it by having as many visitors from New Zealand waters as possible to ours. Friendship displayed to us, we take it, is tho friendship you have in your hearts for Japan. Wo are truly grateful of it and ready to do our little part whenever we receive visitors from Now Zealand. Apology to Wellington People "Before I go 1 would like to apologise again to those people who expected us at Wellington. It was due to altogether unavoidable circumstances that we were forced to disappoint them by calling at the first and neaiest harbour of shelter after tho most terrific storrff we ever had in our long sea life. "We wish you best of luck and prosperity and hope we may meet again." Tho chief officer, Mr. K. Tamura, on behalf of tho cadets, thanked all those Aucklanders who had entertained privately the young men from the ship. "It is most probable that tho Shintoku Maru will visit Maoriland again in about two years." he said. "In any case, it is likely that there will bo much more frequent shipping services from Japan to Now Zealand in the near future and that our cadets will visit this country again in our merchant ships." "We will hoist our sails to-morrow morning, off Great Barrier Inland," said Mr. Tamura "Wo hope that good winds will carry us on to the land of cherry blossom, maple trees and chrysanthemums."