THE HARBOUR PROCESSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 6

THE HARBOUR PROCESSION.

WAIWERA ESCORTED DOWN THE HARBOUR. The finale to the demonstration was tlie escorting of tho troopship Waiwera down tho harbour and well out towards Wellington Heads by a flotilla of naval, Government and mercantile steamers. So numerous was the fleet of convoys, and so large the number of passengers which the various steamers carried, that this part of the proceedings was on a scale of importance and magnitude. Had the sun not been obscured, the water display would have afforded a more brjlliant spectacle than it did.- Even with jin overcast sky and a dull, heavy atmosphere, the steamers, dressed with lines of flags and crowded with excursionists, presented a sight which could not fail to impress the beholder. The car was appealed to as well as tho eye. Patriotic airs played by brass hands and patriotic songs'rendered in unison by men’s voices sounded over tho water. It was remarked that the cheering was not so general as on the occasion of the departure of the first contingent. No doubt it was not. But there was a reason for the difference. It was not that the people were less inclined to cheer, though many of them may have thought of the leavetaking more seriously than they thought of that of throe months ago. The real reason was that some of the escorting steamers did not get within anything like cheering distance of the Warworn. To see the men yon want to cheer close at hand, to feel that they hear you cheering and know who it is coming from, and to be conscious that an answering cheer 'will be given, is a groat incentive, indeed, almost a necessity, to the evoking of enthusiasm. The raising of cheers for men so lar removed from you as to be very nearly abstractions is a difficult matter, even for the most enthusiastic. So that is why the people, who were most of the time far distant from the Waiwera, ware not more liberal with their plaudits. Excursionists whose steamers kept closer company with the transport were at times warmly demonstrative. They cheered good wishes, *;ang songs of encouragement and l farewell, and ‘he variously-voiced adieus were vigorously acknowledged by the “boys in khaki” on tho Waiwera ; albeit, they did not respond in the united manner which was so noticeable with No. 1 contingent. A MULTITUDE OF SIGHT-SEERS. It seemed to be generally recognised on Saturday that to attempt’ to join in both tho land and the harbour portions of the demonstration was to attempt to do too much. There were persons, and they not few in number, who assisted in the functions _ ashore and afloat, but tho great majority confined their attention to either one or the other branch of the send-off. Those who decided to see the Waiwera clear the harbour were early on tho steamers which they had selected. Most of the steamers which were to do escort duty were moored along the Jervois quay wharf to receive passengers, and by 2 o’clock they began to fill up, the excursionists swarming aboard across gan’gways and over bulwarks in a steady stream. A GENEROUS SHIPPING COMPANY. The thanks of the colony are due to the Union Steam Ship Company for placing nine of its vessels at the disposal of the citizens’ executive committee. The company’s boats which took part in the procession were the Monowai, 2020 tons. Captain Chatfield; Rotokino, 11107 tons, Captain Shepherd; Taviuni. 910 tons, Captain McLean; Mapourika, 717- tons, Captain Robertson ; Upolu, 700 tons, Captain McDonald ; Rotoiti, 629 tons, Captain Grant ; Haupiri, 494 tons. Captain Nordstrom'; Taka puna, 669 tons, Captain Parmer; and Mawhera, 340 tons, Captain McArthur. In offering its steamers for tho conveyance of excursionists, the company made only one stipulation, and that was that it should'be indemnified against any accident claims. This matter was satisfactorily arranged. It is pleasing to record that the marine display was so carefully managed that no accident of any importance happened. The Union Company’s generosity on the occasion of the send-off to No. 1 contingent had not been forgotten; its generosity of last week imposes a double debt on the colony. Whilst the I

company was x>ut ,0 very considerable expense and inconvenience in handing over its boats to the public for the afternoon, the Patriotic Fund will benefit largely, for that i.s the mnin object to which the shillings of excursionists will he devoted. Other steamers which took part in the display were the Manama, 78 tons, Captain Mclntyre (marshal’s boat); the Government steamer Tutanekai, 412 tons, Captain. Post; H.M.S. Tauranga, Captain Stuart, C.M.G.; Queen of the South, 121 tons, Captain Manly; Opawa, 70 tons, Captain Clark; Panin, 40 tons, Captain. Fisk; the harbour steamers Duchess and Duco, the yacht Gannett, the to# pedo-hoat, and several launches, including the Ellen Ballance and the Snark. The presence of numerous yachts and rowing boats added to the animation of the scene.