H.M.S. LABURNUM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18596, 5 January 1935, Page 5

H.M.S. LABURNUM

NEXT WEEK'S VISIT

WELCOME CEREMONY

ENTERTAINMENT OP CREW

In connection with the visit of H.M. sloop Laburnum to Gisbonie next week, arrangements have been made for a welcoming ceremony on the arrival of the vessel, and for the entertainment ot the officers and crew during the period of their stay in the port. . . Commander Maxwell-Hyslop .will be visited by Harbor Board and Borough Council representatives, with other leading citizens, when the Laburnum drops anchor in the roadstead on Monday at 11.30 a.m., the Harbor Board's launch being commissioned for the transport of the party to the sloop, loiter, in accordance with the usual ..practice on Ruch occasions, tbte commander will return the calls by visiting the Mayor and the chairman of the Harbor Board at their respective headquarters, and arrangements for the various functions which aro to take place during the week of the Laburnum'*, stay in port will be finalised.

From a r.umber of Gisborne organisations, offers of hospitality for members of the Laburnum's personnel have been received by the Mayor. Mr. John Jackson, and a, programme is being drawn up for submission to the executive offi : cer of the sloop. The three town bowling clubs have offered t« entertain men from the sloop on their respective greens, as it may be convenient to the commander, while Uie Gisborne Surf and Swimming Club will stage a special carnival during the week, at? which members ot the Laburnum's crew will compete, a feature of the programme being a special invitation handicap race, and a water polo match biiween teams from the warship and from the club membership spectivelyThe Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club and the Poverty Bay Professional Athletic and Cj cling Club have also extended offers of hospitality to the sailors for their weekly track meets, and the W.E.C.M.R. Band will hold a dance in honor of the men from the sloop. A motor drive in the country is being arranged for a party of the sailors, with the object ci showing them something of the countryside. The following programme has been drawn up by the municipal authorities in connection with the sloop's visit:— Monday.—Formal "welcome, 11.50 a.m.; welcome dance, under auspices of W.E.C.M.E. Band, 8 p.m. Tuesday.—Water polo tournament, Gisborne Snrf and Swimming Club, at Macrae Bath, with invitation race for men-o'-warsmen, 8 p.m. Wednesday.—Dance under the auspices of the Poverty Bay Athletic and Cycling Club, 8 p.m. Thursday.—Floodlight sports, Poverty Bay Professional Athletic and Cycling Club, Victoria Domain, 8 p.m. Friday.—Electric light sports, . Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harriers' Club, Childers road reserve, 8 p.m. In addition to the above functions, at which admittance will be free to members of the Laburnum's personnel, the Poverty Bay, Gisborne, and Cosmopolitan social clubs will furnish facilities for entertaining the naval'.visitors, while the Gisborne, Kahutda, and Poverty Bay bowling clubs also will welcome the visitors to their respective greens, the Kahutia club having offered to provide floodlight bowls on any evening of the weelc that may be, convenient > for - men from the Laburnum.. The Titirangi Lawn Tennis Club has joined its efforts to those of other clubs, and will place its courts at the disposal of playera among the visitors. j,

Most of the ratings aboard the Laburnum will be paying their first visit to Gisborne, having recently replaced a number of men whose period of service on the New Zealand station bad expired.