"BANZAI!"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2813, 3 July 1916, Page 6

"BANZAI!"

OUR JAPANESE VISITORS

A CIVIC RECEPTION

UNIQUE SCENE AT TOWN

HALL i

The Concert! Chamber. of tho Town Hall on Saturday morning presented a scene unique and interesting, tho occasion being a civic reception to His Excellency Eear-Admiral Alatsumura and the officers and cadets of tho Japanese 'light cruisers Iwate and Azuma/ Hearty enthusiasm ■characterised the proeeert- '■-■ inzs throughout. The Mayor (Mr. J: P. Inake) presided, and on 'the specially arranged dais were the. Bear-Admiral, the Prime Minister (tho Bight Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir. Joseph WanL Hons. James Allen, J. A. Hahan, G. W. Russell, mv- ..-' era.l ex-Mayors, Defence Department officials, and others. The officers of the two >' warships made a brave, show in tho central block, nearly all of them wearing a decoration of one kind or another (many tho Russo-Japaneso war '" medal), whilst -on,, either ..side, were groups of cadets, 'gearing;.tho typical,' Eton-cut jackets, • dirksj. and • white.- gloves' of: tho Bntis-lu .■vNaTy.'.'i.'---';*;'si-''- ' .''": ■ ■■ .-''-. ': ,'.- ■ fSV"'V',Tho" Mayoral -Welcome.

:', Tho Mayor (Mr. Luke) who appeared .in: his,robes of office, said that they wero there to do honour'to their yerydistm. .. guished v visitor,Bear-Admiral ■. Matsuinura, and tho officers -mho. accompanied him, Tho Admiral had oomo to receive •' the city's welcome, and an enthusiasts one was due to him as the representative of our great Ally in tho East. (Applause.) The-Mayor saidthey-were all pleased to know that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance had been placed on so sound a.footing. , The- wisdom of that Alliance was now ■'"apparent"to all. Japan had been tried ', with, one of .'our most respected Allies—Russia—and had conio through the ordeal with credit.- It said • much ; for' ' the ■: Japanese that "they now counted, Russia - among their ', friends. The-people''of the British Empire, the peoples of France,- Italy, and Russia all' fully, appreciated the part ■Japan was playing m the present war The work they (the Japanese) had .carried'out had proved the worth of the alliance we had entered into with Japan'. They all hoped and: trusted that the nos. pitality, that had been extended to the visitors was. characteristic of New Zea< .land and the Empire as a whole. (Ap; plause.) /:.-"■ Mr. Massey on the Alliance. -The Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. : : W.-P..Massey) expressed his great, plea- .-' sure in joining'with his. Worship ' the Mayor and the citizens of Wellington in according a very hearty welcome to the '/■representatives' of the, Japanese .'Navy ■ and nation. The occasion of. the war had "given British'citizen's; the opportunity to testify their feelings as to the Japanese Alliance. Japan. had played the game ■ properly and well, and had rendered splendid service to". the . cause of tho . Allies,: and now they were only looking for further' opportunities of I. and he only hoped -that the wish would ■be gratified.. When-in response to the ■ call at the outbreak.of the war we had ...assembled the Main. Body'of the Expe. , ditionary Force,,'soine 10,000 men, it would be remembered-' that their d6parture was delayed- for. the reason that it 'was known, I that the, Germans had a number'of fast and powerful cniiser6,' in. eluding the Scharnhorst and the Gniese- • nau, ■ in. these waters,' which made it im- :,. possible for .us . to send our men to sea. Then itwas that the.'Japanese had stood Bide-by side with lis against a. cruel and unscrupulous, foe, to preserve a civilisation which had taken centuries to build up. Opportunely'one l : day /there, slipped through, the Wellington Heads two powerful warshins, the Minotaur, flagship: of the. China./Suadron, 1 and'the- Ibuki, a . powerful Japanese: battle, cruiser. When . iin due oourse our troops sailed it was with!: a sense of security that they would ;reaoh' : .the ..other side of tho world, owing- to -the strength and vigour of, .the : escort. (Applause.). -The help the, Japanese nation had afforded had proved that the alliance was a worthy.one. , ; Japan's' hearty and generous support'had been for thebenefit of Britain and the whole world, and he hoped it would last for centuries to come. , (Applause.) •■'•■!• . Absence, of Vindictiveness. Sir Joseph Ward said he would liko to add a' wordof cordial,welcome. Tho ;; history of Japan was remarkable to those whose observation led them to study the .'characteristics.of,a people, in that they . had,--always show : n an absenco of any trace of i vindictiveness in. their fights, . and never after' a war had they shown ~ a desire, in any-shape for vindictiveness •against the country they had been fight, ing.'- (Applause.) - The lesson they had to, take from this was a clear one—thoy ,had taken their place on our side, deteri 'imined to uphold all that was.best in our '■'. oivilisation. 'He had always remembered what the late Earl Kitchener had told him of Japan during his visit to New .Zealand... "If you get the opportunity;" ~ he had said, "go to Japan, and take timo ■ there to go to their schools, where much 'is taught'thai we'could copy with ad'vantage. Aftor acknowledging, tho Supreme-Being they are taught to revere ■ : the Mikado, and their chief duty was to learn that the freedom: and safety of the nation" is the first consideration, and" to .die, and die happily, for' their country." (Applause.) After referring to ■ the Sir Joseph Ward said the course of history, was showing that Japan with all her (strength and power did not intend to lower her ideals by treading underfoot those'who were weaker <than "themselves. . .(Applause.) England and Japan were working to-day for the bene-, fit- and furtherance of civilisation, and he 'hoped that would be still more st> as time ..went on. (Applause.) '/v'Mr. A. de B. Brandon said he felt glad of the honour to be allowed to add a-few words of welcome to our, friends aid co-allies. ; He expressed the hope that the friendship between New Zealand '»nd Japan would develop with tho evolution of tho human-race in a manner to promote and establish their future happiness. (Applause.) . ...His Worsmp. Mayor then shook .hands with the Eear-Admiral, and conveyed, to him the good-will of the D<v..minlon.and tho City. (Applause.) ,: Admiral Matsumura Speaks. "" Rear-Admiral Matsumura, who waa ■'. gre e ted with a'storm of applause, said:—. ' -'"When I was making the plan for thl9 i ciuise," he said, "I consulted with somo of my colleagues'who had- visited your , ; ceuntry before. All of them _ unanimously approved of, my, suggestion- to come to New Zealand, and added, in high admiration, that Now Zealand abounds not only in hev enchanting .views, but that tho people there aro very affable and kind. Therefore, you will see that the good feelings for your country are spread over the Japanese Navy." (Applause.) Tho cruiser Ibuki, which had rendered Now Zealand somo service in escorting the Expeditionary Forces, Sras given a most worthy commemora-tive—a-model of a Maori war canoo—by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. Tho Ambassador in London Tcceived it, and it was highly appreci- . ated by the wholo Japanese Navy and in 'Japani as a fresh mark of goodwill be-. tween the respective nations. The action of the authorities in arranging for to supply coal to the squadron while in New Zealand was also much appreciated. * The Admiral _ concluded: "I believe there aro many important relations between your country and owing to the common waters—Paeific Ocean— ' which lies between tho two.' It is a pleasant and common duty that we should keep it peaceful, and safe. (Applause.) It .is my great honour to announce that our nation is always desirous not only of fulfilling the obligations under tho Anglo-Japane?e Alliance, bnl nlso in the direction nf joining hands to \jtphold the causes of humanity and civiltfatlon of the world." (Loud applause.) At. tho conclusion nf His Excellency's fpeecb, he called upon his officers and (Bidets to stand up and givo three "banin. Toturn for tho hospitality of this frio country of Now Zealand."- Led by the Bear-idmiral, the naval assemblage "SJP9 out threo great. bliouls, wTlicli refcjmblod the sound (phonetic) of "A-law!" ejsd sans -'G.od SaT? the King," which

was followed by the singing of tho Japanese National Anthem, a weird droning chunt, in which the words and music were "slurred" most, curiously to Europwin ears, but were sung in strong, rather, husky, tones most vigorously. Cheers worn 'given for the Rear-Admiral, and the officers and men of tho ships, after which tho party adjourned to tho Conncil Chamber, where' light refreshmonts wero served, and further personal acquaintance was mado with the visitors.

AT THE ORPHANS' CUUB. Ou Saturday eveniug half-a-dozen officers were 'tho guests of honour at tho Orphans'' Club. Tho Chief Orphan (Mr. Baft), who has just returned from a business visit to Japan, gave the visitors a cordial welcome, expressing the hope that they would find tho Orphans' form of entertainment as enjoyable as their own. He mentioned that during his visit to Japan he had met nothing but the greatest courtesy and consideration from tho richest and poorest people in tho country. An excellent programme was presented, including two hardy annuals in 6ong by Sir Joseph Ward, which created much amusement. The elocutionary items by Mir. J. C. Bell, the songs of Mr. Herbert Wood, and bril-liantly-executed soli on the clarionet by Mr. H. Moschini, were particularly appreciated. GENERAL NOTES. There is no doubt' about tho Wellington public being interested vn tho visitors. Wherever they go crowds eagerly watch their every movement. On Saturday morning the Concert Chamber and corridors Were packed with peoplo cagei to seo tho visitors, and tho gentlemanly habit and deportment of tho officers was tho subject of general comment. In the afternoon about 500 of the men attended the pantomime "Mother Goose at the Opera House, at tho invitation ot tne management, and many found their way to other places of amusement. Tho fino band of the flagship Iwate, undor Bandmaster Sayo, played a programme of music in the grounds of tho Wellington Hospital yesterday afternoon. Last evening they participated in tne concert- given at His Majesty s Theatre by tho Tramways Band. 'Scrupulous cleanliness and periect order were apparent to every visitor to the two Japanese warships. No slumming is evidently allowed on a Japanese war-ship-everything is "ship-shape, fashion, from, the gleaming brasswork on the bridge, to the darkest corner of tho men's sleeping quarters. The crew made the public very welcome, and. seemed anxious to show everything that was to be 6een above and below deck, from the mechanism of the 6-inch Armstrongs on the main deck to the way a "Jap" rolls a cigarette. On the arrival of a squad from shore-leave, a non-commissioned officer 6honted a word and directed thenattention to a number of small rectangular pieces of wood bearing Japanese characters, arranged in lines on the deck. Each man took up one, saluted, and departed. The N.C.O. explained that each piece of wood represented a particular man—it was a check- to see that every man who had obtained leave had returned to the ship. The Japanese sailor is not a drinker —there is seldom or never trouble on that 6core with them. About the decks were group 3of people, found, on inquiry, to ,be changing Japanese for our money—a 20-sen (silver) piece for sixpence, 10-sen for threepence, and 2-sen (copper) . for apenny. A lively business was done ; in small change throughout the day. Most of the visitors were presented with .littlo Japanese flags and picture post-cards, and were quite happy in their possession. Some wrote their- names and addresses on them, with the intimation that they would like to receive a local picture postcard in return. ' PROGRAMME' FOR THE WEEK. Yesterday, parties-of the officers were taken for short motor 'trips into the country, and some visited the golf links at Heretaunga. . -~ : To-day a party of thirty officers are to, be taken out to Trentham Camp, and lunched there by officials of the Defence Department. At 11 a.m. to-day another party will be entertained at morning tea. at the *-Kelburn Kiosk by the KelburnKarori Tramway Company; a small garden patty will be given by His Excellency . the Governor this afternoon; >500 of the men will bo taken for a.jaunt round the city in tramcars between 9.30 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. On Tuesday another 500 men are to do the city by. tramcar; the Eear-Admiral and principal officers are to be lunched n.t Bellamy's; and a hundred officers are to be taken to Featherston, where Walrarnpa residents will pick them np, and motor them about the country, os well as show them tho model camp ot Featherston. On Wednesday afternoon and evening, tho Mayor and. Mayoress are to entertain the men at the Town Hall, and that evening the Eear-Admiral and his staff will dine at the Wellington Club. < WARSHIPS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YESTERDAY'S INSPECTION.' The warships Iwate and Azuma were again open for public inspection from S.BO a.m. till "i. p.m. yesterday. Long before the appointed time hundreds of people passed along Clyde Quay towards the wharf where the warships are berthed, - and before noon those hundreds had swelled to thousands. From opening time till visitors were requested to leaved the ships were thronged with sightseers. -The crowds became onormoua during the afternoon, and it is estimated that quite 10,000 people went down to the vicinity of the vessels. Hundreds failed to get on board either vessel, and tho wharf w'as a seething, swaying mass of people: Despite tho throug, the traffic was handled well by Hie police and Harbour Board officials. Those people who got on board' were shown most of the parts of interest on tho vessels. Courteous sailors,''and in cases officers and midshipmen, escorted groups over tho cruisers, and in very good English .for the most part, explained the various sights. There were great numbers of children there, and tho majority of them were given souvenir flags, etc., which will- doubtless be treasured. In some cases the sailors gave cap bands away to admiring spectators. On the flagship Iwate, tho band was practising, and tho music was much enjoyed. In the afternoon several hundred of the warrant officers and men from both ships carao ashoro and mixed freely with the peoplo. Ono and all appeared to be having a good time. S°mo were riding bicycles, while others . walked through 'tho city streets, round, the wharves, and penetrated the outlying districts. A number of smart-looking midshipmen, of whom there are 06 on tho. two vessels, wei'o taken for-a tram ride all over tho city. , By permission of tho officer command; ing, a company of cadets < from tho warships, were met at tho wharf gates last oveniug by tho Central Mission Band, and escorted to service.