H.M.S. RAMILLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 6

H.M.S. RAMILLIES

KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST HOSPITALITY FOR CREW SHORE I.IFK APPRECIATED FIRST SINCE WAR BEGAN ruT TEliEflitAPn —own comwsponmntl WELLINGTON, Wednesday Intense public interest is being shown in H.M.S. Ramillies, which is the first British battleship to visit Wellington. Thousands of people crowded yesterday to Pipitea Wharf, at which the ship is lying, and they watched with unflagging interest from outside • the barrier the many phases of battleship routine. The Ramillies has steamed thousands of miles since the outbreak of war and has traversed many seas. Three months ago she was in a far northern region that has figured frequently in recent cable messages. After her long passage out to Wellington the great ship presented a somewhat weatherbeaten appearance; but in the brief time since her arrival she has been painted and is now wearing the smart appearance characteristic of His Majesty's ships. The people of Wellington have risen to the occasion and are showering hospitality on the ship's company, for whom numerous public and private entertainments have been arranged. This is deeply appreciated by officers and men, who are now enjoying their first real spell of shore life since the war began. Many Bearded Sailors Comment has been made on the unusually large number of officers-and men in the Ramillies who are wearing beards. So numerous were the requests for permission to grow beards, it is stated, that the commanding officer intimated that wearers would be divided into three classes and the winner of the prize in each division would have to apply for permission to go cleanshaven again. At the special invitation of the Mayor and citizens of Wanganui, a party of 15 officers and 385 men will visit that city to-morrow. They will leave Wellington in a special train at 7.35 a.m. The party will be the guests of the citj' at luncheon and a programme of sight-seeing and other entertainments has been arranged. They will depart from Wanganui at 3.20 p.m., and, after dining at Marton, will arrive in Wellington at 10.59 p.m. The ship's band will accompany the party. Another party of two officers and 200 men will be the guests to-morrow of the Mayor and people of Eastbourne. A third party of 200 men will be the guests of the Mayor and citizens of Wellington to-morrow, when they will be taken on bus trips into the country. •Quests at Race Meeting Ten officers of the Ramillies were the guests of the. Wairarapa Racing Club at Tauherenikau on Monday. After the races they were entertained by Mrs. Charles Elgar at her home near Featherston, where a very enjoyable time was spent. A large number of officers and men are being entertained privately during their stay in Wellington. Several golf and tennis clubs have placed their facilities at the disposal of officers, a number of whom are also testing the fishing in Wellington and Wairarapa streams. The band of the Ramillies will play in one of the shells at the Centennial Exhibition from 7 to 8 p.m. to-morrow, following which the citizens of Wellington will give a dance to the ship's company in the cabaret.