INSIDE THE MOLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10767, 13 May 1913, Page 3

INSIDE THE MOLES.

A SUPERB PIECE OF WORK. The mighty battleship crept up the tarbour slowly but surely and swung ;ound to the entrance to the inner harbour with a majestic sweep. For a moment as she hung in the fairway, with the tug straining on its hawser on the starboard bow ana the other vessels filling in the background, the scene was a most impressive one, and in some ways very similar to that painted by the great naval artist Wylie, in the magnificent picture which ho presented to the dominion. Gradually the New Zealand swung round and tnon, as she, entered the still waters of the inner enclosure, the tugs, dredges, escort iteamers and the vessels lying at the wharves blew their whistles or foghorns. Foundry whistles sounded sharp and slirlfl, railway engines tooted merrily, bells rang, people at the moleheads cheered, and in a few moments the leviathan was inside. The stillness which followed the noisy welcomo was most marked and it was made impressive by H.M.S. Pvramus. For some time her company had been standing to quarters, and now. at a sharp order, a bugle call rang out, only a"note or two, but very clear. Almost immediately an answering call floated over the water from the big visitor. A single note replied, a siifgle noto seemed almost to echo it. and somo point of naval etiquette, some custom til unknown to the landsman, had been complied with. The tug appeared to be acting under directions signalled from the bridge of the great battleship, and accordingly she swung across to assist in turning .the Dreadnought round, a manoeuvre which required considerable caro and skill in such a limited space. In a moment the tow line had straightened and almost imperceptibly the vessel commenced to swing round. As she

oamo tho crowds standing on the wharves were enabled to obtain a Magnificent view of this, the greatest vessel of war that over entered, .New Zealand waters. An<l an imposing sight it was, imposing to a degree. Everything was done so silently. A flag waved, an order was given, and immediately men rushed here or there, as needed. Tho sun shone bravely, and as the vessel swung r.ound porthole after porthole along tho lino reflected tho ravs cheerily, litt.le flashes of light against a great, grim muss of dull groy. Now the warship Was broadside on and all on the wharves could seo her great lines, impressive in their very simplicity. Tho propellers wero stirring up the mud but they swung the ship. Now tho tug was out of sight on the far sido and tho vessel's stern was coming round quickly. There in big brass letters woro tho words "New Zealand." and it sent a thrill through the onlookers to see them. This was their Dreadnought, boro their country's name, and would maintain their country's fame. At last tho battleship was exactly stern on and the view was really a stirring one. So strong she looked, so grim, so relentless. There was an impression of squatness in the view, but it was easily seen why. The stern must needs be low if thoso great guns peering out were to do their deadly work at the testing day. To and fro manoeuvred the tug and gradually tho vessel began to make towards her berth, alongside the number three jetty. The band was playing merrily and ever and anon the breeze wafted across the strains of "A Lifo 011 tho Ocean Wave" or "Kulo Britannia." And now the people on the wharf took a hand in the welcome. Three cheers rang out, as a foretaste of what was to follow. As she loomed nearer her great bulk overawed * the onlookers. The men on tho upper bridge appeared to b© so small; the ship so large. A sailor on tho bridge waved his flags, a man near the stern answered signalling with his arms, and at onco an order rang out. Near the bow the leadsman threw the lead and with a tremendous rattle the anchor plunged into tho sea. Yard by yard sho crept in between tho two wharves, and faces could be'seen peering out of tho portholes. Along tho decks the men were drawn up and the officers could bo 6eeu searching with their glasses for the faces of rriends on the wharves. A squad from H.M.S. Pyramus had been drawn up on the wharf and soon had lilies aboard. The hawsers were pulled in and ever so slowly the vessel drew towards the -jetty. Steel hawsers were run out, the great springs wero connected and at 9.55 a.m. the vessel touched • the wharf, gently to be sure, yet heavily enough to displace a plank or two on the wharf. In a very short time the vessel was made fast aud preparations for running a gangway aboard were hurried on.

Perhaps' to the average landsman the work of turning the vessel right round inside the moles was merely-a pleasant sight. It was.dona so silently. so promptly, that it- really looked easy enough. But the sailors on the wharves were loud in their praises of the skill shown. To turn a vessel of 19,000 tons in practically her own length was a triumph . .of. seamanship and those who knew the difficulties of the task were delighted, if not amaaed, with the splendid manner in •vyhieh it was done. A word of praise is due to those on board txfe tug for the little vessel was handled in a most capable manner. Incidentally, of course, the turning of the vessel gave ithe crowds an unsurpassed opportunity of seeing her to perfection. It was .is if she had been turned round, as a dealer would turn round a motorcar, in order that it might be seen from all, sides. No finer sight could be imagined than that presented at Lyttelton this morning' 'atid " those privileged to see it will remember it for ever and a day.

• Alongside the wharf the battleship seemed larger than ever. Her top deck was from fifteen to twenty feet above the wharf and the bridge towered aloft. -■• The whole"'thjng' : gftve thf> onlookers the impression of grim energy. There appeared to be nothing superfluous about the 6hip. . The sides were unbroken by any guns, and the rapidity. with which the.. _ blue-, jackets removed partial billr* warks showed how very -quickly the decks oould be cleared. The boats hung at the davits were away above the wharf, almost directly over the centre of it and they looked so puny, so utterly insignificant by comparison. •The gangway built for "the occasion .was not nearly large enough, shs cpn- ; [ sequence being that it was not very far off the perpendicular. As soon as it was up, the seamen swarmed j down to make all fast. The vessel | was made all fast, .the last hawser [placed in position and H.M.S. New [Zealand Was safely berthed alongside and L'ytteltonians felt justifiably proud ' of their port. : The picture that will live longest in tHe memory, however, is not that of the vessel at the wharf but entering the moles. That was a picture indeed. In the background were the Maori, the Te Whaka, the Canterbury, and many smaller steamers. In the foreground were little motor-boats, insignificant' by comparison,. ,and 'overhead soared the seagulls, alarmed by the bombs, 1 the cheering, and the shouting. The : hillsides were bathed in glorious sunshine, the sea was dancing points of reflected light and there in the centre of the picture, as it were, the attraction for all eyes, lay New Zealand's Dreadnought, her pledge to the Empire of devotion and loyalty,.