THE BATTLE-CRUISER NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 5

THE BATTLE-CRUISER NEW ZEALAND.

9 • PROGRAMME TAKING SHAPE. SOME SUGGESTIONS. ! Although it is not absolutely certain , that the battle-cruiser. Now,' Zealand, will arrive hero on April 8, and any arrangements mado must on that account be, to an extent, • provisional,' 1 tho o2stia\ pro-' - ' ' • gramme for the entertainment of tlio offi*- • cers and crew is steadily taking shape. Mr. C. W. Palmer (secretary of tho looal branch of the Navy League) told a reporter last evening that he had sng- ... , Stated to Mr. B. Wilson, of tlio Tourist' - Department,' who is, acting for .-.the Gov- y ernment in arranging details of tho programme, that it would bo advisable, to appoint the day following that of the' New Zealand's arrival for tho official re- , ceptioii of the vessel and her crew. This proposal Mr. Wilson approved, and it will l;e submitted to his _ Excellency tho Governor (tho Earl of Liverpool). In support of his proposal, Mr. Palmer pointed out that complications might occur if the official .reception were held' on ' ■ • the.,-day of tlio New Zealand's; arrival, particularly if -she arrived later than ex. peeled. His suggestion is that tho battlecruiser should anchor for tlio night in Worser Bay, and run Tip to her berth off tho Queen's Wharf on the following day. Mr. Palmer has sent in a letter to lie fcb'nsi'dered' at'the meeting of tho Wharves'' and Quays Committee of the Harbour Beard to-day, suggesting that if possible ! tho day of tho. official reception. of ..tho New 'Zealand' should bo observedas a"" > ' ' closa holiday on the wharves., .If this were ... ■ done, Mr. Palmer considers, a number of steamers.would-probably run down to the- ■' New Zealand's anchorage, with' excursionists aboard, and acoompany her up the harbour.' In any ease,'he remarked, I '' '" the Government steamers would presuw- ~ ably go down, and yachts and other small' harbour craft .turn, out'in large . in honour of the occasion. If no hitch occurs there should 1m a great muster of ir<■ reliant and pleasure craft at tho anchorage of the New Zealand.. 11 Another matter which Messrs. Palnier '. and Wilson havo in hand is that of-nr-ranging for the inspection of tho battle cruiser 1 by'"parlies" of"School' 1 thi]d£e£u""" Captain llafsey will be communicated with when he reaches Australia, and asked to specify tho days during the New Zealand visit on which children will not be admitted to the battle-cruiser. -This * Mr. Palmer remarked, would prevent any * .muddling, in the .way .of youngsters com-, . < ing from tlio country and ;;uot ♦, to get oil board.'" Days for tlio admission of children will bo fixed, and their visita will bo regulated accordingly,, tho necessary arrangements being made with tho Railways Department and the schools.

A few days ago a proposal was mooted that' the Wellington' Racing Club should postpone its approaching meeting for a week, 60 that the naval visitors, might be given an opportunity of attending a race meeting,on .April 10., It was further proposed that' a public' liolklay should be declared oil that date. The Hon. H. 1). Bell, on behalf of the Govermnent, agreed :.to oldse the !publifc offices oil April 10_ if the other parlies concerned fell ill witlii the idea, but the Mayor (Mr. I). M'Lareu) when ho was spoken to last evening, said that ho did not consider the idea feasible, lie had. consulted • people interested, ~lio, said,' iiild as a result could not see'Ms > way to fall in with tlio suggestion. Ho remembered'having invited citizens to observe a lialf-lioliday ou onooocasion last year, but the response was poor, many shops remaining open... i >: The proposal of a holiday on a raco day is therefore unlikely to be adopted, but Mr. .Miner; hopes' that the day or the reception of the battleship will bo observed generally as a holiday; Tlio Navy League,' he remarked, did not want to inconvenienco business people, and would endeavour to make r such arrangements as would interfere, as little, as possible '.with .business.'. At the ftanio ;tim? thb occasion was a very notable one, and it" was reasonable to. suppose that there would be'ti'general "Cessation of work and. a , monster turn-out of citir-cns on the day when thfc battle-cruiser steamed up Wei- • lington Harbour. Captain Lionel Hnlsey, .who.is in .com-—. mand of the New Zealand, was flag-cap-tain, oh tho- Powerful, to Admiral Fawkos . v! when the latter officer was in charge of tho Australian Station.' that ■ time Captain Halsey, then 2V years of age, was the youngest post-captain in the British' Navy. " : (By; Telegraph.—Prcf.s Association.),. Christchurch, March 17. . Tho City Council to-night made a grant of; .£250 towards the cost of enters:', taining the. men .of .the battleship; New . Zealand. The labour members opposed thfc griiiit. i--. „ . '• ; Tlmaru, March 17. - • - Speaking . '«t . .iTemuka. tonight,. ..the, Prime Minister'said Cabinet, 'at its next ' meeting, would ponsidcr iho moans Ito be adopted to assist localities to give a good reception to the battle-cruiser New ■■■< Zealand, and to seo tlio ship, • '