OUR DREADNOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 306, 19 May 1913, Page 5

OUR DREADNOUGHT

VISIT TO LYTTELTON. I A RECORD CROWD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Cliristchurch, Last Night. There was a record crowd on board the New Zealand yesterday. The tally for the day was 23,904. "Lite total to date of those who hare visited the warship is 73,258. The beautiful weather experienced today resulted in a very large number visiting 11.M.5. New Zealand, and the total for to-day was close oil seven or eight thousand. A party from the ship consisting of 190 men from the New Zealand and several from the Pyramus, under Lieutenant Lovett Cameron, and Warrant-officer C. Legge, travelled by train to Staircase Gnllev, and th oroughly enjoyed the outing. Leading seaman Nichols was descending to the railway line, when a loose boulder struck him 011 the head and he sustained serious injury. Other functions were a meet of' the hounds at Aylesbury, winch was attended by a number of the ship's officers, and a visit of a. squad of men to the rille range at Cashmere tills afternoon. Arrangements are well in train for accommodating the Dunedin children. The Prime Minister has arranged for a special train to convey them to Christchurch, and also that they shall he supplied with meals in the dining car free. THE DUNEDIN CHILDREN'. Christchnrch, Last Night. At a very largely attended and enthusiastic meeting held in the City Council Cluunber this afternoon, arrangements were made for the billeting of the children from Dunedin who will visit Christchurch to iuspect 11.M.5. New Zealand. They were detailed by the Mayor '(Mr. Holland) who stated that 1202 children would arrive to-morrow evening, including 250 from the boys' and girls' high schools, and G3 teachers. He announced that arrangements were practically completed for the accommodation of all. Councillors Loasby and T. C. Hill are to join the special train from Dunedin at Timaru, and confer with the teachers as to the arrangements made. Almost all present handed in their names, and indicated the number of children they would take. j THE NEW PLYMOUTH VISIT. In connection with the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand to New Plymouth, and the request bv the various borough councils and couimty councils for an extended stay here, Mr. B, J. 11. Okev, M.P., has received a letter from the Hon. H. D .Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, covering replies from Captain Halsey. Similar letters have also been 1 received by the Mayor. The reply from Captain Ilalsey states that : "It is with extreme reluctance that I must say 110 to the urgent request of the many for our stay at New Plymouth to be pro- ■ longed, but I have two very strong reasons, which cannot be denied. They are: (1) I must have a week to coal, store, provision and overhaul engines, boilers, etc., before leaving New Zealand for my 25,000 mile voyage Home; (2) the safety of the ship I command demands that no unnecessary risks be run, and New Plymouth is 11'ot a suitable or safe anchorage for a. ship of this size." In a further enclosure Captain Halsey states that he proposes arriving at New Plymouth about 9 a.m., and would be glad' to receive the Mayor and Council at any time from 9.30 on. He did not propose landing any officers or men unless the weather was entirely favourable, when a few might be permitted. The anchorage being absolutely open and exposed, he would not remain at anchorage after sunset. Every effort would be made to show any visitors that could come off round the ship. MODIFIED RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS. The District Traffic Manager at Wanganui has issued the following statement: "1i has been ascertained that the itinerary of the battleship New Zealand cannot be altered so as to give two days to New Plymouth. Such being the ease, it is found to be quite impossible for the Department to provide sufficient trains to convey all the public to seek his fortune. His mother sacnorth thereof to the Breakwater. The siding accommodation and other conveniences at New Plymouth are altogether inadequate for anvthing approaching the eestimated traffic, and all school children and the public from Normanby and south thereof desirous of visiting the ship-will require to come to Wanganui. Holiday excursion tickets will be issued to Wanganui on June 14 and 10. and special trains will be run 011 the latter datn. The Department has very reluctantly adopted this course, but the arrangement is necessary to enable the business being dealt 'with satisfactorily." NUMBER OF VISITORS. The records that have been kept of the numbers of visitors to H.M.S. New Zealand at the various ports of call indicate the nature of the interest that is being shown in her mission. Melbourne figures poorly in the records, but at South African ports the big warship was a wonderful attraction. Since leaving Portsmouth she l.as steamed about 10,000 miles and at all the main ports the ship has been thrown open to the public for inspection. The greatest number to boar,! the ship on any one day was at Capcitoivn. when the visitors totalled 20,000. The aggregate attendances at the various ports iliave been as follows:

Capetown .■35.740 Sinionstown 1.100 Durban 39,700 Melbourne 18,040 Wellington !.. 07,000 Napier 10.800 (iisborne 3.500 Auckland During the nine days tliat the vessel was open for inspection at Auckland visitors crowded in from all quarters. Tbe daily records are as follows:.Wednesday, Apiil SO .... 2,8118 Thursdav, May '( .... 7,270 Friday, Mav 2 .... 4,'258 Saturday, May 3 ....... 12,.08 Sunday, May 4 ..., ! '18,500 Monday, May 5 .... 11,323 Tuesdav, May 0 Wednesdny. Mav 7 ...; 11,135 Thursday, May fi (appro:;.) , .... 10,000 • 90,182