TO BERTH AT THE KING'S WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 8

TO BERTH AT THE KING'S WHARF.

iRECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS. Tho battle-cruiser New Zealand will arrive, in Wellington Harbour at - p.m. -on Saturday/ next. Advice as to the liour of arrival was: received yesterday by iur. , B. Jl.::Wilsoß, who is superintondyig the reception arrangements tor the Uovernmeiit.il,'flio fivill bo met, on /entering the harbour, by P ll . other steamers, including the lutanekai, and also by the yachts of tho several clubs, w'hich Will form into lines and escort tho warship to her anchorage. ~ Recently Captain Halsey telegraphed from Melbourne asking lor information about berthage at Wellington. Mr. K. Fletcher (chairman of the Jlarbour Board) replied that owing to tho pressurs of. shipping he could not definitely arrange to _havo tho battleship brought alongside a wharf.: He desired to do this, however! and/pf 'possible, berthage would bo allotted durin" a portion of the visit. Ycs'terday JTr/ 'I'letcher again went-into the' subject of' bSrthing tho Nev; Zealand with Captain Johnson (Harbourmaster). . As :a result of their conference, they decided that it would be' possible to berth . tlie' wai-shi]l "at/-'tlio King's Wharf from Thursday, April 17, to Holiday, April 21. Subsequently-'Mr. Fletcher called on tho "Hon. 'H." D; Bell, who has telegraphed to the. Governor- and the commander of tho warship, explaining the arrangements for anchorage and .berthage. It will be necessary to do so'iilO' barricading at the King's Wharf for tho safety of the public (especially women!aiid children), because whilo , the; warship is lying at ono side ol tho Kind's Wharf,' la'mercantile ship will be loaflmj?'cargo'on tho other sidti It is anticipated that the berthing of , the New iZealanil will bs greatly appreciated by ,lai'go ! Innmbers 'of local citizens and countiV - people desirous Of viewing tho ship . at..close...quarters. • last evening Mr. B. 51. left for Auckland to confer with tho authorities at'.that port regarding arrangements for the reception of the New Zealand. He .will return to, Wellington beforo the eiid of tho week'.'' lidter on Mr. Wilson will 'visit other Dominion ports on a similar mission. ' / The Mayor (Jlr. D. M'Laren) and other .members of tho' Citizens' Ball Commit.'teei waited yesterday morning upon the ■Hon: H.''D;'Bell;'and asked him to forward a request to his Excellency the Governor, that idle should attend the ball. Mr! Bell consented to forward the request to, the Governor,. and it was agreed that the' Mayor'should also forward an invitation to' tho'''Earl of Liverpool to attend ' .the ball.. Some, of. tho complaints which have bceiiymade about the refusal of the Railway Department to allow parents to travel at the same rates as children from. country schools, who are to bo brought -!to . Wellington to-view tho New Zealand, 'h(vye possibly been founded upon a mis'/agprehension. Thei.arcangomejit which has been made is'that the children shall be conveyed at . a special excursion rate, and their parents or guardians at ordinary excursion irates.