WITH THE CROWD.

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

WITH THE CROWD.

THE INVASION OF LYTTELTON. To-day dawned with every promise of a. fine sunny day, and the reassuring aspect of the weather, combined with a reasonable amount of certainty regarding the arrival of the New Zealand, induced a very large number of citizens to patronise' the early morning trains for Lvtt-elton. The first train, at 6.30 a.m.,'took a fair number of Christchurch citizens to the port, while the contingent that flocked to the railway station to board tho 7.20 train iviw so

large that a long special train was required in addition to the ordinary train, to. accommodate the sight-scors. Despite the provision of this additional train the crowd at tho station was so large that many people wero unable to find seats, and had to stand either inside the carriages or on tho platforms. Arrived in Lyttelton the crowd at once wended its way to the wharves, and ticket-holders commenced to flock aboard the dredge Canterbury. Tho rails of the dredge were soon lined with people, and tho vessel loft the wharf with crowded docks. Tho Maori accommodated another very large contingent, and smaller steamers and launches augmented tho little flotilla which went to meet tho warship. On the wharves a great crowd congregated, waiting to witness the entrance and berthing of the leviathan cruiser. Each successive train from the city augmented this crowd, and it was soon evident that the Now Zealand was to receive at Lyttelton an enthusiastic and hearty reception at tho hands of the general -public. A number of tho visitors walked out along the shore in the direction of Oollan's Bay, so as to got a good broadside view of the vessel as sho passed on her way to tho inner harbour. Others went ' out along the Sumner Road, or occupied- various coigns of vantage on the hillside, and waved a welcome to tho big ship as sho steamed majestically up the harbour. The orowd on the wharves was in oheerful holiday mood. For the most part it whiled away the time of waiting with jests and laughter, while its more serious-minded members discussed the all-absorbing topic of the big battlecruiser's visit in all its varying phases. Tho berthing of the ship was watched with intense interest, and the successful completion of a difficult piece of manoeuvring was witnessed with complacent satisfaction. The honour of Canterbury's port was safe, and Lyttelton liad attained the honour of being the only port in Australasia where the giant cruiser had been brought right alongside tho wharves. The New Zealand afforded a stimulus for both national and Imperial pride, and with a good excuse for local pride as'well, the citizens were as happy a crowd as could be found anywhere in this not particularly dolorous country. Towards mid-dav the curiosity of most of the visiting sight-seers was for the time being satiated, and they acknowledged, the claims of life's daily routine by returning to the oity, most of them, it may be Dresumed, promising themselves h visit of inspection aboard the New Zealand during the cominc fortnight. As one man remarked : She's too big to be taken in at one bite."