THE AMERICAN FLEET

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1908, Page 14

THE AMERICAN FLEET

On Wednesday evening Admiral Sperry and about 200 ofliccts journeyed to Rotorua by special train as the guests of the Government. The Prime Minister, Lady Ward, and Miss Eileen Ward, the; Hon. J. McGowan, and members of the Legislature, with their lady relatives and other guests, were also on the train, the total number on the trip being about 300. On Thursday morning the visitors received a "Maori welcome at the Sanatorium Grounds, -when the Chief of the Arawas addressed them as follows :— Welcome, Admiral Sperry and officers of the American fleet. We bid you welcome "to the land which our ancestors fished up out of the great ocean Kiwa. We welcome you with much pleasure to this. island, because we have heard of your gracious words in Auckland. We welcome you as friends, because we recognise you are distinguished visitors, that you come of the same blood and have the same genealogical tree as the Anglo-Saxon" people, and of King Edward. We welcome you always as men who go down into the sea in ships, because'" the Maoris and ancient Polynesians were seafaring people. They owned the Pacific at one time^and their territory extended from the southernmost limit of New Zealand to the Sandwich Islands. Oar ancestors navigated the Pacific with canoes dug out with stone when your own people were hugging your own shores. We recognise *hat you are uplifting the mana and prestige which we once enjoyed, our ancestors sailing through the ocean long before the time of Columbus. Therefore we welcome you with a warm heart. The first chief welcome that wj gave you was the incantation song in the Arawa canoe when reaching Aotearda^because just as this incantation brought gladness tp the henrts of the people who were in the- canoe, so your visit brings light and gladness to our Hearts this day H.ul ynu been ordinary pejplc we would have sent wemen-to meet you but as you are warriors we sent wairior? to meet you. To Sir Joseph Ward and the Government parly wo have littl.; to say, because they are one with us. We just extend to them a formal greeting, but the main part is for Admiral Sperry and the American officers, because they come from over the sea. Admiral Sperry, in his reply, which was translated by Dr Buck, expressed great pleasure with the welcome, which, he said, was peculiarly acceptable as coming from a race of sailorme-i who navigated the Pacific so many centuries before the AngloSaxon race settled in the colonies. It was doubly- welcome, because they were members of the great Anglo-Saxon race—those two families extending in all directions over the s Pacific. Both races, through" their rulers, had effected improvement "under their rule in the conditions of all native races with whom they had come in contact. He specially thanked them for welcoming him with ceremonies of: ancient friendship, by which they pr<f served the noble traditions of their race. At the conclusion of v the Native .welcome Sir J.- G. Ward opened the new bath-house which has been erecfedSn the Sanatorium Grounds. Having opened the door with a golden \kev. Sir J. G. Ward, accompanied by thej-'ofliciat.'paVty, ascended th* balcony, where he delivered an address.' - '~ ' ■ • The Prime Minister, in ihe coursc.~or his remarks, .gav^ figures illustrative of the progress of Rotoi ua, -as follows:— 'During the last five years the. gross receipts' to the Government from Rotorua have increased - per cent., the population has risen from 900 to 2000, and ' ttief number of houses from 96 -q over 500, including business premises. ,The- total' receipts since 1902 were and during that"' period the fcath receipts have been The building contains -'the last Word of science in the electrical, massage, and other methods of treating disease. At present the town has electric lighting at a cheaper rate than Wellington. During- the five years, the Government has paid into the town account. Rotorua is unique^ inasmuch as it belongs to the people, is- managed by a State Department. I trust the building- lam opening may prove a

success as a pleasure resort and a place where pain will be alleviated and sickness • cured: ' ■ - ~ On Saturday morning, punctually at 8 "o'clock, the American fleet left Auckland for Sydney.' Prior to its departure Admiral Sperry sent the following message to the 'people of this Dominion, " through his Excellency the Governor : — ' On the eve of the." departure of the Atlantic fleet from Auckland, the Commander-in-Chief desires, on behalf of his Government and the" officers and men. to express- to you,- and through you to the people of New Zealand,- hearty thanks for the cordial reception and generous hospitality accorded the fleet by the Government and people of the Dominion. The friendship and esteem existing between the British Empire and the United States-" cannbt' fail to be"strengthened by. a visit of this nature, which will .bring on both nations a realisation' of their 1 close relationship and common interests, - and foster a sympathy and mutual " understanding more binding thai treaties.' ■ .- • • '. ■' ' ■ " • ,