MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13727, 17 August 1908, Page 5

MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE.

"HEARTS LINKED TO NEW ZEA- / , LAND. . , The following letter from ,the\ailors on tho Vermont was addressed to the press for publication.

Ladies and Gentlemen of shis'fair city of Auckland.— On behalf of : the representatives of the American fleet present here this evening I have' the honour to say that words fail $0 express our appreciation of the warm and enthusiastic reception we haye received while here. It was pimply splendid. Everyone has been so cordial, and we. coyld not help but have a good time. Never, perhaps, has our unworthiness been made more manifest than by the bestowal pf yotjr kindness upon us. l .'.i, "We have, mingled in your society but a short 1 time, and while i«T bur humble way, we may v &ave contributed some iileas|i|r6 It<y-*th(iH&1 t<y-*th(iH& about us, yet ike haye bwen^to© r^aipien^s of conenjdymeni atj^pite hinds, and it is we who are inder obligation and not yot^sely^Sv, accept this kindness, therefore, with a sense of deep obligation to ypti, and we^'earnestly "hope and pray that some day we may have an opportunity to shpw how f ullr we.,»pjweeiate the ex- \ ceptional kindness and, hospitality we ] have received liene. * ; My perWnaLexp^rienee in }his. city, and my questioning of others 'on this subject, lead me to believe that such sentiments as you have shown have linked Ajnerjjcin 'hearts to N«Wi <$©*• land as nothing else could accomplish/ We leave this, fair sditSr ftt.eigfefc o'clock in the. .mprningj a,nd£ bid you a farewell ihat -will pain "our hearts, and we-will carry with us a cherished memory tff this visit td your fteaiitfr ful city.— (Signed) R. J^ Chief Turret Captain, U.S.S. Vermont.

. A FINAL INTERVIEW.

ADMIRAL MUCIJ IMPRESSED.