THE NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3086, 7 May 1913, Page 31

THE NEW ZEALAND.

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND. A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE. (From Oua Own Couhkspondext. ) f • AUCKLAND, April 29.. The Aucklanders turned out literally in their tens of thousands to-day to welcome the dominion’s gift battleship New Zealand, which dropi>ed anchor in the stream shortly before 2 p.m. Even the elements conspired to ensure the success of the celebrations. The most impressive function - of the afternoon was the meeting of the warship by the full flotilla of the city’s power boats, pleasure craft, and yachts. Their displayproved, in- fact, to bo a feature of the day. The outposts of the expectant fleet of small craft first descried the battleship a wayin the hazy distance at 12.45 p.m. As she headed in toward the inner reaches of the harbour, the mosquito fleet now comprised at the very least 250 craft, 200 of which were motor boats of various types. As the New Zealand came on, the scene presented was a magnificent one. The huge steel battleship dwarfed its crowd of escorts into puny but none the lca,< picturesque things. In the wake of” the ferry boats and steamers there crowded on their sterns intrepid men and boys, pulling at the oars of tiny dinghys and hard'ly larger rowing boats. Rowers in outriggers joined in the procession until so groat waff the bewildering array of craft that the formerly- quiescent sea was churned up into white-crested waves. The battleship steamed majestically along in the centre of the stream, and soon overhauled her escorts, the last vessel to be left astern being the Onewa, w-ith a number of children aboard, under the segis of the Auckland branch of the Navy League. These young New Zealanders frantically waved flags, sang patriotic songs, and cheered as the gift battleship passed to her anchorage just off the Queen street wharf. Enormous throngs of spectators witnessed the entrance of the New Zealand to the harbour from the heights on the city side and from those on the north shore. The wharves were packed from end to end, and even the steamers lying at their berths had been invaded by eager sightseers. The eye could scarcely rest, indeed, on any spot ashore from which a view of the harbour waa obtainable without discovering humanity and yet more humanity. This silent multitude watching from all sides, and the animated scene on the water itself, with the battleship the centre of the fleet of attendant craft, went to make up a never-to-hc-forgotten spectacle, which must have stirred all who witnessed it to their depths. After the battleship came to anchor she was boarded by about 20 members of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marine Association of Auckland, wearing mc-dals and decorations. They were among the first to give the ship a welcome, and Captain Halsey replied, appreciating the action. Captain Halsey and Commander Grace, accompanied by other officers, then landed, and were welcomed by the port authorities. The chairman of the Harbour Board voiced this gladness of the city at welcoming the battleship. Captain Halsey replied, thanking them on behalf of the ship. A civic reception was then accorded the visitors at the Town Hall by the Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) and councillors, the Prime Minister and the Hon. H. U. Bell being also present. The streets wore lined with spectators, apd as the officers drove through they were heartily cheered all the way, the tone of enthusiasm being very marked cn all sides. Mr Gunson, chairman of the Harbour Board, speaking at the reception to Captain Halsey, said it was proper that the shouts of welcome were particularly cordial and spontaneous from the Port of Auckland, for whatever the future might hold in store it was at this port that the groat naval base of the Southern Pacific was to he established. “ We have the nucleus of a station, and are prepared, under the direction of our Government and the Imperial authorities, at any reasonable sacrifice, to complete what has already been begun.” CAPTAIN HALSEY’S SPEECH. AUCKLAND, April 29. Replying co the speech of welcome at the reception given by the port authorities, Captain Halsey said: “ I hardly know what to say to you, for it has never been my privilege to witness such a reception as you have given us this afternoon. You and your magnificent harbour have given as a wonderful reception. We have been fortunate indeed in arriving at your port on such a glorious day. When wo were in the Rangitoto channel we wore mot by your outposts so to speak. Little did I think that we were going to moot hundreds of boats in your harbour. I thought out there in the" channel that I would have liked to stop for them, but as we wont on morn and more came into view, I congratulate you on the still more splendid reception which awaited us on rounding the heads into your' harbour. The chairman has alluded to the past naval visits to this port. I can only say that if the welcome accorded to those visitors was as hearty as this one it is something which I thought was impossible. “I can quite realise why you give us this welcome,” continued Captain Halsey. “You arc quite right. The welcome should not lie to us. bat to your fine ship which you have given to (he Motherland. We are the fortunate ones who have brought her out to you, and wo are deeply grateful

for your reception. Ladies and gentlemen, again let mo thank you from the bottom*';; of mv heart on behalf of nay officers and ;] the ship’s company for tho hearty recep- .il tion the ship has received ou entering your ■ port.” PRESENTATIONS AT GISBORNE. J GISBORNE, April 29. | The New Zealand departed at 4 p.ra. ; yesterday. Captain Halsey replied in very cordial terms to the Maori of ; welcome, stating that the treaty which joins the Maori race to the British stands as a groat asset to the Empire. J Tho Maoris danced three hakas —the first ; defiance, the second welcoming the New Zealand to her own waters, and the third victory. Two young Maori gins Laid at Captain Halsey’s feet beautiful mats and an ancient mere which had vJ boon through many Maori battles. An adjournment was made to the captain’s cabin, where a presentation of a Maori mat was made to Prince George of Battenberg. The Prince replied, stating that | it would please his friends at Honio that ; ho had been thus honoured by the Natives of New Zealand. A presentation of an address was later % made to Captain Halsey by the Overseas 5 Club. In responding the captain remarked .. that the club was doing a groat Imperial work, and he always made a point of Keeping in touch with the members.

FESTIVITIES AT AUCKLAND. CIVIC LUNCHEON. AUCKLAND, April 30. The second day of the visit of H.M.S. a New Zealand to Auckland was ushered 5? in by rain. The wet weather, strikingly i| in contrast to that of the previous, day, S lasted all the forenoon, but it ceased rain- 1 ing in the afternoon, and the officers and | men, who came ashore in considerable J numbers, were able to explore the city and its environments under fairly plea- \ sant conditions. About 600 school || children went aboard the battleship this ? morning, when officers and men joined i in the task of showing them round. The only formal festivity yesterday the civic luncheon given to a portion of the ship’s complement. Two hundred ’ and fifty members of the crew, in’ charge of First Lieutenant Jones, were brought ashore at 11.30 a.m. in one of the Devonport Ferry Company’s boats, which have . been placed at the disposal of* Captain Halsey, and also of the authorities con- 1| trolling the visits of children to tho warship. They were formed up in marching order at the Quay street jetty, and pro- ii ceeded up Queen street to the Town Hall, where luncheon had been spread for them J on circular tables in the supper room. The procession of sailors attracted the at- ; tention of the pedestrians, who stood in > hundreds to watch them as they passed. A little squad of veterans, under Mr | Thomas Allen, president of the Veterans’ Association, awaited the “boys in blue” at the Queen street entrance to the Town i Hall, and came to the salute as the party J halted. Inside the hall Messrs W. B. j Leyland and S. J. Nathan (members of the Entertainment Executive) welcomed tho , visitors. The Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) was also present, and no time was lost in ushering the guests to their seats at tho ■ board. A substantial meal was provided, i with the addition of a judicious allowance of “grog,” and Jack Tar showed Ids * appreciation of the fare by turning to with a zest. One or two speeches were I inevitable, but they were commendahiy brief. The Mayor proposed the toast of the “ King,”" and after it .had been honoured the guests sang a verse of the National Anthem. This was something to ’;5 have heard. The men sang not only with remarkable vigour, but with a striking degree of harmony, the bass and tenor | parts being tunefully sustained, whilst tho " baritones rendered the air. Mr Leyland j proposed the toast of “ H.M.S. New Zea- - land,” and once more tho vocal abilities of tho men-of-warsmen was made ap- | parent by the way they gave voice to “Rule Britannia.” That First Lieutenant . Jones is a popular officer was convincingly demonstrated by the prolonged cheers with which his men greeted him when ho rose to respond to the toast. The only other toast was that of “The Veterans,” on whose behalf Mr T. Allen responded, and for whom the sailors gave three lusty cheers. After the civic luncheon the men from the battleship were given their freedom to entertain themselves as they would. Each man had been presented by the Auckland Electric Tramways Company with a free pass entitling him to ride upon the trams upon any section during the stay of tho battleship in port. Numbers of yesterday’s shore party availed themselves of this privilege and visited several of the suburbs. Others rambled about the city on foot, looked at tho shops, and conversed with the citizens, and every man returned to the battleship when leave expired impressed with what lie had seen and tho treatment meted out to him. A complimentary dinner, tendered tonight to the officers by the Auckland Club, was attended by his Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister (tho Hon. Mr Massey), the Hon. H. D.’Bell, tho Mayor, Captain Halsey, and 15 officers. May 1 A number of officers from H.M.S. New Zealand were present at a garden party at Government House this morning. A further batch of men were entertained at luncheon in the Town Hall to-day. The petty officers wore tendered a smoke concert by the Working Men’s Club to-night. Many more school children visited tho ship during the day. . There was a very brilliant gathering ia tho Town Hall to-night, when tho citizens of Auckland gave a ball in honour of / Captain Halsey and his officers. Anting the guests were tho Governor and* the :|j Prime Minister. Tire hall was lavishly decorated for tho occasion. A number of Maori chiefs complain bitterly of the arrangements, which, they say, t wore made by the civic authorities tor theai to present gifts and addresses of welcc*E.® to Captain Halsey. The time allotted then? they say, was too short, and as they must not be hurried on such an occasion they I'eiirned home. In order, however, that Captain Halsey' and his men

might rear] tlie address, they sent it on to the New Zealand Herald for publication. May 2. A further batch of men from H.M.S. Now Zealand wore entertained by the City Council at luncheon to-day. The officers were tendered a smoko concert to-night by the Garrison Officers’ Club, and the officers were also made the recipients of private hospitality. The weather was unpleasant. A hundred members of the Empire Veterans’ 'Association visited the ship to-day, besides numerous school children. Proposing the toast of H.M.S. New Zealand at the luncheon to the men, Mr W. A. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner, said Canada was doing something to help the navy. There was a little difficulty just now concerning the question as to whether the ■vessels should be built in Great Britain or in Canada, but there were no two opinions about the principle of holding the Empire together. The suggestion that Canada should give three dreadnoughts was merely consistent with the size and importance of the dominion. Its area equalled one third of the whole Empire. Now Zealand has given a great deal when it gave a battleship. Small in area. Now Zealand was large in generosity. PARTY’' VISITS ROTORUA. AUCKLAND, May 4. Much disappointment was expressed by the men of H.M.S. New Zealand that the sports meeting yesterday had to be postponed. A party of officers and men left for Rotorua to-dav. May 5. Children’s day was observed on the

battleship New Zealand to-day, a total of some 11,000 children boarding the vessel in organised parties and under the care of teachers. A party of girl scouts also visited the ship during the afternoon. The Northern Club gave a conversazione to the Governor to-night, at which officers from the New Zealand were present. The yacht race to Kawau on Saturday and yesterday resulted in a win for the yacht Rawene, commanded by Mr Read, from the New Zealand, the second place going to the Ariki, with Commander Grace at the helm. A MAORI WELCOME. (From Our Own Correspondent.! AUCKLAND, May 4. An address from the Maori chiefs is as follows : “ Address of welcome from the Maori chiefs of New Zealand to Captain Halsey and the officers and men of H.M.S. New Zealand. Welcome, Captain Halsey, officers, and men of H.M.S. New Zealand, visitors this day welcome, who represent the greatness, the might, and power of the British Empire, who have come from across the great seas (Moananui a kiwa) in your great war canoe, which is the envy and fear of your enemies and our enemies. You have now arrived at Aotearoa and i'e VVaipounamu. This is the bow of our canoe Aotearoa, this is Tamakimakaurau, this is the shore and land where our ancestors have settled for ages, and where Queen Victoria and her Governors haw stood for our protection up to this time, the reign of our most gracious King George. Welcome to Auckland, which is inhabited by people of both races, European and Maori, under the Treaty of Waitangi. Welcome to the place of sunshine and happiness, the place where all people find law, order, authority, and peace. Welcome to New Zealand, where you have come at King George’s command. We arc full of excitement and joy at seeing you on your arrival here at these islands, welcome. It has been a great journey, the track of which has been opened by navigators of the British Empire. Welcome tn see your Maori people in theip happiness and in their troubles in these islands. Welcome with the battleship which was given to the King by the Government of New Zealand in the name of both pakeha and Maori in order to support the British Empire and to defend both races against their enemies. The arrival of our battleship on these shores will be as a memory and everlasting remembrance to us and our generations to come. All the male and female chiefs of the inhabitants of both races of New Zealand, together with their children who have assembled here, now welcome von all with gladness in their hearts, ’ihe whole source of our

I peace is the Treaty of Waitangi and the strength of the British Navy. Let both live and be strong. Welcome! Welcome! May God bless all of ns, pakeha and i Maori.” THE BLUFF PROGRAMME. INVERCARGILL, May 4. I Efforts are being made locally to secure 1 r.n extension of the battlesliip New Zeaj land’s, stay at the Bluff to two days in- ! stead of one. THE DUNEDIN PROGRAMME. So far as the visiting of HALS. New Zealand is concerned the suggested arrangements are as follow: —On Saturday morni in.g, the 51st, the Harbour Board’s tug will 1 convey the members of the board, the executive of the Navy League, and IHs Worship the Mayor and City Councillors to the battle cruiser outside the Heads, when it is hoped that the weather and other things will permit of the party going aboard apd formally welcoming Captain Halsey to this port. The return call will, doubtless, bo made a little later in the day, when bis Worship and the citizens will meet Captain Halsey and some of his officers in the Town Hall. The Tutanckai and Hincmoa ; meantime will bo busy taking their shiploads of enthusiastic children from the prin--1 cipal schools outside to see, if not to board, ; the battleship. It is thought that the Go i comment and Education Board may -get i through one half their undertaking on the i Saturday, the other half to bo taken out ion Monday. The Navy League members I ond Hie senior students of the boys’ and girls’ : secondary schools (about 1000 all told) will ■ bo invited by the executive to make the : trip, probably on the Saturday afternoon. The boarding of the battleship will, however, depend wholly upon the authorities deciding that the conditions will permit of this being done. On Monday a large cont’ngcnt of the* men will visit the city and parade through the principal streets. Afterwards they will be entertained at lunch in a suitable building. 'this and other arrangements, however, will bo in the hands of the Mayor, who, immediately after his installation, will call a meeting and form a committee from the council and citizens to help in the programme of entertainment. It was the wish of the lady members of the Navy League to arrange a dance, but owing to the uncertainty attaching to the demands that may have to bo made on the services of the officers on hoard the battleship, the intention was reluctantly abandoned —a decision with which Captain Halsey concurred. In addition, of course, there will bo numerous private parties and trips. It is not without its humorous aspect that the city which can boast, possibly, the strongest financial and largest numerically patriotic or-, ganisations (Auckland, for example, has nothing approaching those of Dunedin) is tSie least favoured of any port, through an untoward Fate, in the matter of seeing and visiting H.M.S. New Zealand.