THE SQUADRON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19008, 8 May 1924, Page 5

THE SQUADRON

LAST DAY AT WELLINGTON MEMORABLE OCCASION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 7. To-day many thousands took advantage of the last opportunity to visit the battle cruisers Hood and Repulse. At one time the waiting queue was nearly half a mile long. On the Hood hundreds of small parties were taken charge of by petty officers and seamen and personally conducted over the huge fighting, vessel. Various sections were explained. On the Repulse it was "men's day”; thousands of invitations must have been issued. The vessel was crowded and the men were allowed full opportunity to entertain visitors and provide enjoyment. The quarter-deck was placed at their disposal. A jazz band played all the afternoon. For the children various swings, revolving wheels, switchback railway and chutes were arranged. To the little ones the warship resembled a floating palace of delight. . To-night the Navy League ball was held, and there was a searchlight display. The vessels, without H.M.A.S. Adelaide, leave at 8 to-morrow morffing.

Vice-Admiral Field, in command of the Special Service Squadron, will arrange for the squadron to give a searchlight display when off Cape Turnagain, which will be about ten o’clock tomorrow night. The squadron will be at Napier from 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, but H.M.S. Repulse will be sent on to Gisborne, where she will remain from 8 a.m. till midnight on Friday. The Repulse is a sister ship to the Renown, in which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales visited New Zealand.