AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON

VISIT DRAWING TO A CLOSE MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION. : (Special to Daily Times.) .„.,.'., WELLINGTON, September 25. A, message to the people of New Zea» land expressing the appreciation of the officers and men of the visiting Australian squadron for their warm welcome was fiven by Lieutenant Commander L. E. 'orter, R.N., of H.M.A.S. Canberra in the course of a talk from 2YA this evening. . , ■ "We are absolutely overwhelmed- by the wonderful kindness and hospitality that has been shown to us by everyone" with whom we have come into contact" he said. "You have afforded us every facility that has been within your power, ' he said. "You have seen us, most of you, only when made fast to the wharves in your cities. Those have been our leisure moments. At eea we have carried out exercises with the ships of your New Zealand division, which have been ; of the very greatest possible value and interest. That you have taken in our ships has been evident from the crowds of visitors we have had in each port. At Lyttelton the number of people who came on board has only once been exceeded; 32,000 people visited the - Canberra in three hours. We leave New Zealand on Wednesday with only one disappointment —that time has not allowed us to see as much of your beautiful country as we would have wished. Our great hope is that we may be allowed to return in the not too distant future to make good that disappointment and to renew the innumerable friendships we have made and which we sincerely hope you value as much as we do."