VISIT OF THE NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15748, 26 April 1913, Page 9

VISIT OF THE NEW ZEALAND

ARRIVAL AT NAPIER. THE DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. (Peb United Piiess Association.) NAPIER, April 25. The New Zealand arrived at 7.30 a.m.' and anchored in the roadstead. A party of Maoris boarded the warship and ten- • dered a characteristic welcome. The. weather is fine, and great crowds aro ar- ,i riving to viow the ship.

An official visit of weloome was paid by the Mayo.r (Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P.) , and ilr A. E. Jul], cliadrman of the Harbour Board, who were received on board' by Captain Halsey and his officers. The officers were the guests of the Mayor and--councillors at luncheon at the Masonic.'. Hotel, after which Captain Halsey and two of his officers visited the golf links, / \ the remainder going to Arataki, the ex-.'/, pei'imental fafm. ,} About 250 of the men came ashore about' bid day, and marched through the town , to the Garrison Hall, where they were ! entertained at lunch. A varied sports.,: gathering was afterwards held on the'i' Marine Parade, and games of Rugby and Association ■.football were played against the local lads.

The visiting sailors were later enter- .• tained at tea in the Garrison Hall. In tho evening the men attended a complimentary '> concert given in their honour at the Muni- v cipal Theatre, sonje of them contributing '■ to the programme. Tho town is thronged. with visitors.

During tho day thousands of school. ; children from the town and the surrounding country districts visited the vessel, a which lay in the roadstead. The Govern- ' ment steamer Tutanekai and local .vessels ; convoyed tho children and adnlts to the 7 ' warship.

The secretary of the Duncdin branch of the Socialist part; informs us that tho following resolution Ims been passed by tlio ... branch: —'" That this branch of tho Notf ' : Zealand Socialist party endorses tho Nationa. Peace Council's circular ro the visit of tho warship Now Zealand, and asks the workers' ~ of Otago to refrain from visiting it, aa a protest against tho usoless expenditure of tho workers' money, and points out that the building of warships and the continued increase of the army aro only beneficial to armament contractors and financiers, and ' directly opposed to tho best interests of the . workers; and, ■ further, • the claim that tho navy is built for tho protection of commerce in time of war is fallacious, inasmuch - as tho task is an impossible one."