THE BATTLE CRUISER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1732, 24 April 1913, Page 7

THE BATTLE CRUISER.

MOVING ON TO NAPIER,

THE AUCKLAND PREPARATIONS. In connection with tho arrival in Now Zealand waters of tho battleship New Zealand, his Excellency the Governor, at tho request; of tho Prime Minister, sent tlio following cablegrams to England:— To his Majesty the KingOn behalf of myself, my Government, and the people of New Zealand I. desiro to tender our respectful congratulations 011 tlio safe arrival in Wellington Harbour of H.M.S. Now Zealand. (Signed) LIVERPOOL.

To tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies—

On ljolialf of myself, my Government, and tho people of New Zealand I desiro to express our hearty congratulations to his Majesty's Government on the safe arrival in Wellington Harbour of H.M.S. Now Zealand, and our satisfaction and deep appreciation at tho excellent manner in which tho contract has been carriod out in producing such a magnificent vessel as nn addition to tlio Hoyal Navy. (Signed) LIVERPOOL,

To tlio Secretary of State for tho Colonics, for transmission to tlio Lords Commissioners of tlio Admiralty—

On behalf of myself, my Government, and tlio people of Now Zealand, I desiro to congratulate your Lordships oil the 6a fe arrival iu Now Zealand waters of the magnificent specimen of naval architecture which hears the name of this Dominion. (Signed) LIVERPOOL.

His Excellency received tho following gracious reply from his Majesty tho King:-

I thank you, the Government, and.tho peoplo of New Zealand for kind message and congratulate them on safe arrival of their fino sliip. (Signed) GEORGE K. and I.

The reply from tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies is as follows:—

11l reply to your telegrams of 'April 12 his Majesty's Government: appreci- . ato highly your messages ami learn with great pleasure of the satisfaction with which 11.M.5. New Zealand hasboon welcomed in the Dominion. (Signed) HARCOURT. LAST DAY IN PORT. Tho battle-cruiser 11, M.5. New Zealand leave,9 for Napier at 7i o'clock this morning, and while at Ben will engage in battle-practice with the 12-incli guns, firing at towed targets. Yesterday morning a number of officers of the Fifth (Wellington) Regiment, with their wives, paid a visit to the warship, and in the afternoon n party of city journalists with their wives went over by the .Tanie Seddon in.response to an invitation to look over tho battle-cruiser.

! AUCKLAND'S ENTHUSIASM, COUNCIL WILL SPEND .£IOOO. „ ' ~ . Auckland, April 23. brcat enthusiasm prevails in ■ connection with the visit of H.M.S. New Zenland. The captain and officers will bo welcomed by tho port authorities and will then be given a civic welcome. A total expenditure of .£IOOO is contemplated by tho City Council which hay made an* appeal to tho different suburban bodies for assistance. So far a total of .£146 13s. has been received or promised from this source.

Preparations for tho citizens' ball at Christclmrck on Friday, May 16. in connection with tho visit of tlio kttlo-cruiscr New Zealand are well advanced; Tho ball will bo held in Pyne and Co.'s wool store on the South 80lt —a building measuring 240 ft. by 120 ft., in which a special flooring is being laid down with a superficial area cf 6000 ft. A special scheme of electric lighting: is being arranged, and a special train will leave Christclmrck for Lyttelton after the ball.

A message has been received from H.M.S. .New Zealand 10. tho effect that three hand-bags have been found on board. These ,'tre marked "Troup, M'Kay, Cragg, Masterton; also one pair of gtild'-rimmcd spectacles.