THE NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1697, 13 March 1913, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND.

♦ 7 HER APPROACHING VISIT. Arrangements which! are to be made to entertain tho officers and crew of the battle-cruiser New Zealand were discussed ■Uy the Hon. H. D. Bell (Minister for Internal Aflairs) yesterday* with a deputation consisting of the Mayor (Mr. D. J r * C. AV. Palmer, secretary of tho Navy League, and Mr. J. B. Earcourt, chairman of the local executive of tho League.

bubscquently Mr. Bpll told a Dominion! reporter that tho Government would do : what it could to entertain the sailors of tj'e New Zealand and that the Mayor of . Wellington proposed to hold a ball in the lown Hall, and an open-air gather* ing in Newtown Park. The Government, 'Mr. Bell added, would act as hosts and would entertain both officers' and men on behalf of the country. An opportunity would be given tho visitors of seeing as much of tho country as possible and tho Government would co-operate with the citizens at each port visited in extending' (hospitality to tho visitors. ■ Children would be brought in from tho country districts by special train, Mr. Bell addec| f . and where Government steam* ers were available would be conveyed'in these vessels to tho battleship. To citizens in general all thb facilities possible.would be offered to visit and. view the- battleship. It is expected that in Wellington and_ Tutanekai and Jauie Seddori will be available as tenders 1 for tho conveyance of children. Tho Government hoped, Mr. Bell stated, that at each port visited the crew of the New Zealand would.be granted leave in parties so that one party after another could be tft!?cn up country for a dav's excursion by train and entertained at luncheon.

_ Mr. Bell will represent the Government m connection with arrangements made for the entertainment of the crew of tha battle-cruiser. Control of details has been entrusted, to Mr. B.'Wilson, manager of tho Tourist Department, who will be nsv sisted_by Mr. Hull, of the Internal Afx fairs Department.

t . The itinerary of the battle-cruiser during her New 'Zealand visit' has not yet been definitely settled,' but sho is expected to arrive in Wellington from Melbourne on April 8. She may possibly arrire a little | later. In any case it is understood that the battleship will spend, something over two months in New Zealand waters.

Some further details in regard to tho preparations tfliicli are being made were supplied last evening by Mr. U. W, Palmer., Tho'citizens' ball at the Towa Hall, and the picnic afternoon at Newtown Park (mentioned by Mr, Bell) are being organised and arranged, Mr. Palmer explained, by the local branch of tho Navy League, in co-operation with the City Council, which was approached by the league, and asked to assist by providing tho hall in one case and the ground . in the other. Mr. Palmer stated that he impressed upon tho Minister at yesterday's deputation the necessity of obtaining by cablegram at the earliest possible moment definite information as to the itinerary of the battleship-cruiser during lier visit to JS'ew Zealand. Communications have been received by Mr. Palmer from tho authorities at all the important New Zealand ports, asking for information about tho movements of the battleship. At Auckland tho -Harbour Board hag agreed to co-operato with the branch of tho Navy League at that port in affording entertainment to the officers and crew of tho Now Zealand. The Wellington Harbour Board has been approached by tho • local branch of tho League, and the chairman (Mr. E. Fletcher) informed Mr, Palmer that lie would gladly lay tho matter before his board, and had no doubt that it would agree to co-operate with tho league. _ > A proposal is afoot that the garrison officers shall entertain the officers of tho Now Zealand at a smoke "social," and various other functions for, both officers and men aro being considered. Thera should be plenty of time for these festivities, Mr. Palmer remarked, as it is an> ticipated that tho New Zealand will re 4 main at Wellington for a fortnight.