THE'BATTLESHIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 7

THE'BATTLESHIP.

TIME OF ARRIVAL.

PICKED UP BY WIRELESS CODE,

GOVERNOR'S GREETING,

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE IN REPLY. Tlio following telegram was addressed by his Excellency the Governor to Cantain Halsey, H.M.S.. New Zealand, last evening "On behalf of my Government and the peoplo of Now Zealand I extend a cordial velcoino to these islands to yourself, your officers and crew. I can assuro you that all classes of peoplo eagerly looking forward to seeing the ship which bears the nauio of this Dominion. "(Signed) LIVERPOOL, "Governor." Reply as follows has been received by his Excellency the Governor from H.M.S. New Zealand"All on board desire to heartily thank you and your Government for your kind message and welcome. Wo aro pleased to bo neariug tho shores of your Dominion, and aro proud to servo in the ship which slio has so magnanimously given to defend our Empire. We are'looking forward to meeting our kinsmen. "(Signed) CAPT. HALSEY." HOUR OF ARRIVAL. Tho Wellington wireless station at Mt. Etako has been in communication with H.M.S. New Zealand since Thursday evening, and the officers .have been supplied with the principal news of the day. H.M.S. Now Zealand was within call again last night, when a message was received to the effect that tho cruiser would bo off Wellington Heads at 1.15 p.m. to-day.. BATTLESHIP BALL. An enthusiastic nioeting of tho Citizens' Naval .Ball Committee was held last evening,' Mr. ,T. B. Harcourt being in the chair. On the suggestion of Mr. C. W. Palmer, Mr. Beauchamp-Platts was. appointed treasurer. It was resolved. that tho programme proper be finished by 1.30 p.m. All members of the committee agreed to act as invitation committee, so that, strangers' should have every facility for securing dances. Hcajy sales of tickets were reported. Satisfaction was expressed that tho services of tho Highland Pipo Band had been secured for an "extra." An expenditure of ,£l6O on decorations was authorised, and it was intimated that in that direction the ball, would bo an exceptionally fine function. Arrangements were mado for the running of late trams to Karori, Newtown, and to Island Bay if necessary. It was intimated that the sale of tickets would shortly cease. The secretary reported that he had obtained General Gouley's permission for officersattending the ball to appear in incss uniform. ; , MAORI WELCOME. GREETING OF THE "BIG CANOE," . A welcome to Now Zealand would not bo complete if tho Maoris did not tako part in it, and tlio, fact -has not been forgotten in connection with tho arrival of the battleship to-day. Mr. Daniel Mara Love, cliiet of the Ngatiawa tribe, and a party of his tribesmen have coino over from Marlborough to tako part in to-day's proceedings. The chief has brought over his own launch, the TuAta, from Picton, and the, Maori party may go, out in this craft unless arrangements aro made to accommodate them on one of the Government steamers. The Ngatiawas propose to greet the warship with a Pouwhiri or chant of welcome, which runs as follows:— "Toia mai To wakal "Kite lnoenga' To wakal "Ki to wrunga, To wakal "ICi to takotoranga, "i takoto ai. Te waka! Tho_ following is a translation:— "Bring hither, Tlio canoe! bed, The canoe j "To its landing place, The canoe! "To its resting placo where it is "to lie. The canoe!" Another very ancient chant, which will probably bo heard in the Maori welcome to-day, is as follows:— "Haere mai! Haere mai! "E to manuhiri, Tu-a-rangi, "Na taku potiki koo i tiki atu, "Ki to taha patu o te Rangi, "lCukume mai ai, "Haoro mai! Haere mai I" The translation reads:— "Welcome to you, welcome to you, "My guest, Tn-a-rangi (Chief of Heaven), "Sent to me by my grandson, "I'rom the very side-walls of Heaven, "And just arrived at my abode, "Welcome, welcome." The latter verso is inscribed upon tho monument to Captain Cook, which was unveiled at Ship Covo on February 11. On tlio occasion of the unveiling ceremony, the verso was rendered into English by Mr. Lovo at tho request of tho Countess of Liverpool., ENTER-LYTTELTON? (By Tclegrapli.—Prcsa Association.) Christcliurch, April 11. A message from Dunetlin was received to-day to tho effect that Captain Halsey may hesitate to bring H.M.S. New Zealand into Lytteltou Harbour, but may anchor outside. This was brought under tho notice of Mr. Cyrus Williams, secretary and engineer of tho Lyttelton Harbour Board to-day. Mr. Williams stated that lie had already dispatched tho following cablegram to Captain Halsey:— "Owing to tho difficulties of embarking school children and other visitors off Camp Bay in Lytteltou Harbour, the board hopes that you will allow your.ship to bo berthed' at No. '■! jetty «t Lytti'ltou. Can safely berth you drawing up to thirty feet. Tho harbourmaster will submit, to you on arrival plans of soundings just made." Mr. Williams stated that tho message sent represented tho official pronouncement of tho board regarding the suitability of Lyttelton Harbour for H.M.S. Neiv Zealand, h'ull information bearing out tlio statements would bo supplied to Captain Halsey and it wns then entirely his business to decide wliut courso ho would adopt. It wos not for anybody elso to say whether jje should bring tho ship into Lyttelton or not, and it was absurd for peoplo to try and exert pressure on a man in Captain Halsey's position. TO NAVY LEAGUERS. The Navy League Committee has passed votes of thanks to tho Ferry Company for tho use of the Duchess to-day and to the IT.S.S. Company for tho uso of tho Terawhiti. These boats will -lcavo the wharf at 12.25 p.m., with members of thy Navy League, the juveniles on tho former and tho adults and colleges on the Terawhiti. Members who have not received their passes should apply to tho lion, secretary's office. WARNING TO VESSELS. Tho Harbourmaster (Captain Johnson) warns masters of vessels cr.tering deleaving the port between the hours of noon and 2 p.m. to keep clear of the procession, headed by H.M.S. Now Zealand. TO BANDSMEN. Bandsmen who aro to lake part in today's ceremony were uriginnlly advised that tho Duchess and Terawhiti Would leave tho Ferry AVluirf at 1.20 p.m., but Mr. C'ecil Palmer, secretary of i lie Navy League, directs attention to the fact Hint they will now be required to awmble on the wharf at 12.20 p.m., as the steamers 'lire leaving mi hour earlier Hum was lireviniinly .'-lateil, Mi'itleiiaiit Herd has bcwi ..fuduavo.uriiiK to Rtjt into, louglv w.ith all

tho bandsmen to notify tlicm o{ tho altered arrangement. MARINE PROCESSION. On tho arrival of H.M.S. New Zealand al; Worser Bay at 12,30 p.m. to-day, a marine procession, under tho command of the Official Marshal, Captain Henry Johnson (who will bo on board tho pilot steamer Janio Scddou) will escort tho battle-cruiser to her anchorage in tho .stream. Tho masters of steamers who are takingpart in tho procession will tako up their position in Worser Bay., When {ho warship passes tho buoy on' Falcon •Shoal, they will then fall into tho positions already allotted to them • Motor launches will take up u unction west: of Ward Island, and wait tho arrival of tho warship, and when the largo steamers arcMn (heir positions, tho . motor launches aro to tako up a position outsido or astern of them. Should the wind bo strong Irani the north-west and too rough for tho motor launches, they cau assemble oit Kaiwarra, and, when tho■ warship rounds Hulswell-Point, meet her and fall into line oil her starboard side. Yachts will assemble at tho entrance to Evans Bay and join tho procession when it passes that point. Tho steamers taking part in tho procession are: Mararoa. Duchess, Stormbird, Aatone, lerawhiti, Cobav, Nikau, Admiral, ICaraka, and Pilot. The Government steamers iutanekai, Hincmoa, and Amokura will also bo in tho procession. Tho lutanekni will have tlio Governor and GoaiS' mcm^ers of Parliament on Tlio Wellington Harbour Ferrv Company's steamers Cobar, Admiral, Karaka, w l llo |,will lenvo tho Ferry Jettv for Worser Bay at 12.30 p.m. ORPHANS' CLUB'S EFFORT. A special mooting'of tho executive of tho Orphans Club was convened last evening to make preparations for tho entertainment of Captain Halscy and officers of H.M.S. New Zealand iu tho Town Ilall on Saturday, April 19. As it was to be a ladies' night, it was resolved to decorate and, furnish tho Town Hall for the occasion. The secretary mentioned tho desirability of making the programme fis original as possible. Ho thought that something m the shape of an original New Zealand night should bo considered. Mr. Samuel stated that if a Maori liaka were put on, he hoyed that the' committee set up to control tho programme would endeavour to get the real Maori to do it. J. no matter was left to a sub-committee, llie following sub-committees wore set up:—Catering and refreshments, E. A. Batt, E. D. Hanlon, J. P. Kelly, A. Fernandez, P. J. M'Govern, and tho secretary; furnishing and decorations, Messrs. A. Cerutty, G. Christie, K. Good, .T. M. O'Reilly, W. H. Stephen, Fraudi, W. Fraser, P. Pye-Sinith, U. Jolly, Anderson, Carswell, and G. Maskew; ladies'' cloakrooms, Messrs. G, Bell; L. Brown, H. Foley, It. Grant, H, Marsden, and' P. M'Coll.