AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. AUCKLAND, August 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 29

AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. AUCKLAND, August 11.

The principal functions to-day in connection with the visit of the fleet were the mayoral reception in the afternoon and the State ball at night. About 1600 American 6ailors were landed in the morning for a whole day ashore. They spent most' of the time ! roaming round the city, fraternising with ; the residents and visitors. One thou- ! sand of them were taken for round trips on decorated tramcars. Half of this ; number went to Mount Eden, and after ' climbing to the summit returned to the Royal AlbeTt Hall to lunch. The other 500 were taken out to Onehunga, where they were welcomed by the Mayor of the borough and leading residents, and met by the town band, veterans, and cadets. Lunch was provided in the Drill Hall, i which had been gaily decorated. ! In the afternoon another party of 1100 J witnessed a matinee at His Majesty's j Theatre. Socials and entertainments were given in the evening to the AmaTi1 can and British seamen. Altogether some 3000 men-o'-warsmen were the guests of New Zealand during the day. This morning Rear-admiral Sperry received the New Zealand Defence Council on board the Connecticut. The council was represented by Colonels Robin, C.8., Davies, C.8., and" Collins, who were accompanied by Lieutenant-colonel Woife, officer commanding the district, and their i respective staff officers. The visitors stayed on board conversing with the Admiral about half an hour. This afternoon the Admiral of the Ameri- • can fleet received the Prime Minister (Sir ' Joseph Ward) and the members of the New Zealand Legislature, with their wives. The party went out in the ; Tutanekai, and were cordially received ion board the flagship. Admiral^ Sperry returned the Mayor's official visit this morning, and also paid an official call on the Prime Minister, all the Cabinet Ministers now in Auckland being present. The reception by the Mayor and Mrs Myers in the Military Hall at 3 o'clock , was very largely attended. The State ball to Admiral Sperry and his officers was a most brilliant function, and even with the roomy annexes which have lately been added to Government House, the accommodation was far from sufficient for the numerous guests. The official set was as follows: — His Excellency and Lady Ward, his Excellency the Admiral (Sir Richard Poore) and her Excellency Lady Plunket, Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, Admiral Sperry and Mrs Findlay, the Mayor (Mr Myers) and Mrs Fowlds, Admiral Emory and Mrs Myers, Admiral Wainwright and Mrs Studhokne, Captain Gathorne-Hardy and Mrs Mitchelson. The streets wire again brilliantly illuminated at night, and the warships, outlined in electric lights and playing searchlights on the city, presented a brilliant spectacle. Queen street and the water front were densely thronged. i The coaling of the warships has begun. i At the Chief Post Office this afternoon between 2 and 5 o'clock an official stamped 8826 post-cards destined for ■ America, which were despatched by the i visiting sailors.