JAPANESE CRUISERS

Southland Times, Issue 21717, 1 June 1932, Page 5

JAPANESE CRUISERS

WELCOMED BY GOVERNORGENERAL. INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. (Per' United Press Association.) Wellington, May 31. A wireless message of welcome to the Japanese training squadron was received from Lord Bledisloe by ViceAdmiral Imamura aboard the Asama as the ships approached _ Pencarrow Head yesterday. After giving expression to the cordial feelings of friendship towards the Japanese nation entertained in New Zealand his Excellency expressed the hope that the visit would be enjoyable. Vice-Admiral Amamura replied expressing his thanks and tendering his highest regards to his Excellency and the people of New Zealand. A party of junior officers and cadets from the Japanese warships this morning- started a tour of inspection of the schools and colleges with a view to familiarizing themselves with _ the educational methods of the Dominion. With Mr R. Darroch, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League as a guide, they were welcomed by the assembled school at Wellington Boys College and afterwards visited Wellington East Girls’ College. This afternoon they visited the Training College and to-morrow the New Brooklyn School and the Technical College and, on Thursday St. Patrick’s at Silverstream. Rotary Dinner. The Wellington Rotary Club entertained Vice-Admiral Imamura and the officers of the Japanese cruisers at a luncheon. The president, Mr Teagle, extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors. Admiral Imamura, he said, was the representative of a nation which Britain had always been proud to acknowledge as friends. Admiral Imamura, in replying, paid a tribute to the Rotary movement. He added: The main object of the present cruise of my squadron is of course to train young midshipmen for their future career, but being also here on an errand of goodwill and friendship, I sincerely hope our present visit will contribute in any small measure to the furtherance of the good relations which now so firmly unite our two great nations upon whose shoulders largely rests the tranquillity of the Pacific.