JAUNT TO ROTORUA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13069, 8 May 1913, Page 8

JAUNT TO ROTORUA.

A message from Rotor ua- on Monday stated : An unusually animated scene was noticeable on the Auckland railway station platform (for a Sunday) yesterday morning. The" occasion was. the departure o! the first contingent of officers and men from the battleship NeAv Zea : land, for Rotorua. The party consisted of 18 officers and 12 of the crew, and included Prince George of Baitenburg and Lord Burghish. An ideal day for travelling prevailed.. the sun sliono brightly, and, although the weather was spme>yihat cold,, all enjoyed the journey. The scenery along the route waa much admired by the officers, and, m parts, at reminded them of the rural lands of •England. ■ The sailors enjoyed themselves im'irnensely throughout the journey. They, beguiled the time by singing patriotic and other songs to the a-ccompaniment of 'concertina music, and, as , ail interlude, one of the company "regaled" their ears t .with strains from the bagpipes.' , As 'the "train passed along it was evident that the settlers had heard that the ,nayal men were to go to Rotorua, for men, women, and children came out and waved flags and handkerchiefs, as a welcome- to; the visitors, .while the sailors^ responded heartily. ,The train stopped at four stations before reaching Rotol*ua, vi,z., at Mercer, Fran&ton, Morrinsville, and Putarurifc At each of these numbers of people were assembled wear-' ing red, white, and blue tokens. The train reached Rotorua at 5 p.m., "and a" large crowd of people was on the platform, greeting the visitors with cheers.' The officers were taken to the Grand Hotel, while the men were accommodated at the various boardinghouses. On Monday the visitors were taken on the round trip- through Tafawera and Rotomahapa. .<..';