BATTLE CRUISER

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1737, 30 April 1913, Page 7

BATTLE CRUISER

AT AUCKLAND. MET BY A GREAT FLOTILLA, THE CITY'S WELCOME. (By Telegraph.—Spccla-1 CorrcspondcntA Auckland, April Auo,lslanders 'turned out in their tc\n' of thousands to-day lo welcome the-baltl'v cruiser New Zealand, which dropped anchor in tho stream shortly before 2 p.m., and even tho elements combined to ensure the success of tho celebrations of an historical day. Tho most impressivi function of the afternoon was tlio moef of tho warship by tho full flotilla. the city's power boats, pleasure craft, a. yachts. Their display proved, in fact, 1 bo tho feature of tho day.' Only in 11 caso of (ho yachts was tho weather let than ideal. Tlio brcczo that was blowi; was insufficient to carry them far, ati for that reason, tlio majority of tho sa ors remained in tho inner reaches of li harbour until t'jo New Zealand sleaine round itlio North Head.

About midday tho first of tho smn! craft began to move away from tho whorl and mooring places oil cither sido of the harbour. Tho launches and ferry bonis, crowded with enthusiastici participators in tho welcome, shaped a course round Die North Head, with the vjow of Ultimately assembling at a point agreed upon just off Cheltenham bench.. Prominent in (he outward procession into tho Eangi(olo Channel was tlio ferry steamer Kestrel, packed with monitors of tho Auckland Branch of the Overseas Club. All tho power boats and yachts flew bunting. Host of the units of tho diminutivo fleet! made out towards Rangltoto beacon at' Hie outset, intent upon catching n glimpso of the coining battleship before lining up l'or tho general assembly. Jfeau'tiiue tho various clilts and promon> turies along each coast commenced to bo; "inhabited places," ever-growing groups (If spectators'taking up (heir ttation at; each vantage point. Tho outposts ot-ih" fleet of small craft first saw tlio batik? ship away in the hazy distance at 12.35 p.m. Silo came into sight just over tho lower shore at the extremity of Kangitoto—' a dimly-discerned smudge outlined against; the Barrier Island. Silo was then broadside on and steaming: fast. Her appear-: nnco was the signal for n hurried return' to tho vicinity of Cheltenham Beach on tho part of all tho craft that had ventured! far out into the channel, 'l'hey wero met by ii constant stream of ferry boats aiul smaller vessels just rounding tho North/ Head on tho way out. By 115 p.m., when tho Now Zealand was drawing nearer, there was an imposing .gathering l of all' kinds of craft at the rendezvous/ Prior to tho final' lining tip of tho power boats, the line spectacle wus presented of. at least 150 crafts of various kinds dotted over tho surface of tho water from tlio North Heltd to Takapuna Beach. At 1.30 p.m. sho camo more plainly into view. »' Tho battle-cruiser was now going very slowly, and steering a course towards tlio Beau Rock light. As sho headed in. towards the inner reaches of tho harbour. 1 tlio line of small craft broko up ami separated into units. , There now commenced a raco for the battleship's anchor-' ago,- tho speedier bouts in tlio flotilla quickly forging ahead, tlio slower ones being left behind until, collectively, they were spread out in a long wide swarui' stretching from the Dcvonport Wharf to tho North Head AVitk tho addition oi' some late arrivals on tlio sccne, tho mosquito fleet now comprised !!50 craft, 21)0 of which wero motor boats. When' tlio New Zealand camo on tho scene, the spectacle presented was a very fino one. The huge ship dwarfed its crowd of escorts, 'out launch followed in tho wako of lauiich; ferry boat and steamers crowded on their sterns) intrepid men and boys lugged at the oars of liny dinghies and rowing boats, and rowers' in outriggers joined in tho procession. Tho battleship-cruiser steaming in tho centra of tho stream soon overhauled her escorts, and the last vessel to l)o left astern was tho Onewa, with a number of children on board uudorthfl aegis of tho Auckland branch of tho Navy J/iaguo. Thoso young New Zealandcrs waved flags, sang patriotic songs, and cheered as the ship passed lo her anchorage just off tho Queen Street Wharf.

CIVIC RECEPTION, By TclCErapli-J'rcei, Association--Copyilß'hl Auckland, April 20. ! After the battleship camo to anclioi she was boarded by about 20 members ol Iho Royal N'av.v and lioyal Marine Association'of Auckland, wearing their medals and decorations. They were among the first to (jivo the ship n welcome and Captain Hnlsey replied appreciating tlvir action. Captain Hnlsey and Commander Grace accompanied, by oilier officers then landed and were welcomed by the port author itics. The chairman of the Harbour Board voiced the gladness of tho city at wel, cotning the battleship. Captain Hnlscj replied thanking them on behalf of tlx ship. A civic'reception was then'accord; cd the visitors at the Town' Hall by tin Mayor (Mr. C. .T. Parr) and councillors, Hie Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Mas y.-y). III." 11 mi. It. 1). Hell Iwing also pre sent. The si reels were lined with spec, tutors and a* the officers drove llirougl' llie.v were heartily cheered all the war Ihe tone or enthusiasm being vers marked. ... To-night many'of the public buildings including the Town Hall, Harbour Boarc OHiees and Kerry buildings \vero bril iiaully illuminated, the elVcct being strik ing. A long list of functions to l>e tenderer both to the officers and men awaits their during the twehe days' stay in port. This 1M includes a citizens' l\gU. to 1m tendered to the officers 011 Thnrsdaj night.

AUCKLAND AS NAVAL BASE. Auckland, April 2!l. Mr. Gnns-on, chairman of the Ilarboii) Board, in the coursc\ of a speech at tlii port reception (0 Contain Hnlsey, fait 1 hat it was nropiv tliat the shouts 0: welcome should be particularly oordiu and spontaneous from the port of Audi laud, for, whatever tlie future may hole .in store, it: is at this port that the greiv naval haw of the Southern Pacific is to to established. "We have," he said, "tin nucleus of a station, and are prepared under tho direction of our Govonunon and tho Imperial authorities, at. any roa t-onablo sacrifice, lo complete what lui already been, begun.' CAPTAIN HAIISEY'S SPEECH. Auckland, April 2?. In replying 'to the speeeh of wclcoim nt. the reception by tho port Authorities Captain Ilalsey said: "f hardly kno\ what to say to you. for it has never bee! my privilege to witness sueli a reccp'tiol as you have given us (his afternoon. Yen and your magnificent harbour have givoi us a wonderful reception. We have ben fortunate, indeed, ill arriving at you port 011 such a glorious day, When w were in liangitoto Channel we were me by your outposts, so to speak. Littl did I tliinl; thai, wo were going to niee hundreds of boats ill your harbour.-'! thought, out there in the channel, thi\ I would have liked Ho slop for them, bu as we went 011, more and more camo inh view. I congratulate yon oil tho Eli] more splendid reception which awaited u on rounding the into your Tho chairman has alluded to past Nova visits to ; lhis port, and I can only snj that, if tho welcome accorded to thojj visitors was as hctrly as this- one ( it 1 something which I.' thought was mipoi sible. 1 can quite realise why you giv us (his welcome," continued Captain ll'n sey. "Von are finite right, but tl welconio should not bo to us, but to yoi line ship which you have given to tl Motherland, 1 We are 'the fortunate on< who have brought her out to you, an we are deeply grateful for your receptioi Ladies and gentlemen, again let me than von from the IxiUom of my heart oil Ik half of my officers and tho shin's con pnny for 'the hearty reception which 111 ship has received 011 entering your port.