H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 277, 19 August 1919, Page 6

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

DUE HERE TO-MORROW MORNING

RECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS

' .Captain. Williams, -Naval Adviser to the Goyernmfent, informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that ILM.S. Now Zealani which, left Sydney on Saturday, would, arrive in Wellington to-morrow morning. A doubt has beep expressed as to whether the OTufesj' will go to an anchorage or come up to her hearth at the . Queen's .Wharf directly on her arrival. " Captain Williams, on being consulted on ~ the point, said that tlio Now Zealand would probaw come "ght up to her berth .at-the jvharf without dropping• anohor. He did not think that the medical " inspection of the ehlip by tho Port Health Officor wcntld prevent' that course 'being fc'doptsfl;' as the New Zealand had. iier own medical staff, who could be relied upon, to Qo their duty.

ENTERTAINMENTS ARRANGED,

INVITATIONS ACCEPTED.

The following invitations Jhjvo been accented by Admiral Lord Jelhcoe, it was aahouneM by the Minister for Internal Affairs yesterday, for receptions and other functions in Wellington;— AVednesday, August 20: Cmo reception atlnoon, or, if this be too early, at noon on tho following day.' , Thursday, August 21: 1 p.m., Ministerfell lnnch at Bellamy's. Evening-Ball at Government House. Friday, August 22: Afternoon-At Homo to bo given by tie Bishop of WcElington. Evening—lnvestiture at Government House. , . - Saturday, August 23: Luncheon- given by Jleretannga Golf Club. ■ 'Monday, August 25: N.Z. Clubs luncheon. Tuesday evening: Citizens Ml. In addition to the above, tlie men of H.M.S. New Zealand are to bo entertained at tachcon at. the Town Hall lit noon on Thursday and Friday. The date? for the sports meeting and football match will bo arraujfe-fl aa soon after the vessel's arrival as possible.

THE HARBOUR WELCOME,

HOLIDAY OB NO HOLIDAY?

A deputation, consisting of M-essrs. W. E. Fuller, S. S. Heath, Captain Peterson, and G. Sutton (representing the H.M.S. New Zealand Shipping Exception Committee) and Ah-. T. Eonayno (Commodore of the Motor Boat Club) waited on tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday morning in connection with the harbour reception to the warship. Captain Peterson and Mr. Fuller pointed out tho great help it would be to them if the Mayor wouilld deolare a publio half-holiday. If that were done many of-t-ho big mercantile houses and offices would close down and liberate their staffs for the half-day, and so offer an incentive for the small boats at any rate to go out and meet the New Zealand. Mr. Eonayno pointed out that many of the motor-boats were owned by working people, and if a halfholiday wore not declared only two or three boats would be ablo to go out.

. The Mayor declined to recede from the attitude he had taken up, and recapitulated his reasons (given at Friday's meeting) for so doing. Nothing that had been said would "alter his decision. If the shipping people wished to send out their boats tiiere was nothing to prevent them 'doing so. After leaving tho Mayor, the deputation got into, communication with tihe Government on the Question of declaring a public holiday on Wednesday, arid were informed that Cabinet intended' to consider tho matter this morning.

Captain Peterson is calling a meeting of .the Wellington Ship Owners' Federation for thi= morning to see if they cannot do something in the way of a marine wtfxome "on their own." '■

THE SCHOOLS' WELCOME,

IF WJJATHER PROVES FINE,

■ -Ae the result of deliberations yesterday the Education Board, 'acting with the Headmaster's Association, has decided to participate picturesquely in the welcome to be accorded to H.H.S. 1 New Zealand

tb-moreow morning. Tho plan to be followed is. that all the schools from Greater

""Wellington, and also Miramar and Karori, aire to assemble at their sc!hool3 and 'then proceed to the waterfront, where they are to bo disposed in groups extending from Point Jerningham (on the eastern extremity of Oriental Bay) to the Taranaki Street Wharf. Each child is requested to bring the flag supplied on Peace Day, which will bo used to demonstrate with as the vessel sweeps round Lambton Harbour to her berth at No. 1 Queen's Wharf. Detailed instructions are being supplied to each headmaster affected, and as only the scholars from the third standard (inclusive) upwards ara to participate, it is believed that tho scheme can be made a very effective form of welcome. News will be received by wireless of the exact time of the New

Zealand's arrival in port, and it is pro-

• -posed that, the children shall he in their J. places', oil. tlio waterfront half-an-hour previous to that time. An endeavour is being made to secure bands, to he located '{"cii the Taianaki Street Wharf and Clyde Quay Wharf. M In connection with the children's part, streamers ivill "be suspended from the ■ railing along Oriental Parad6 (Oriental Bay), the large lettering on which will ho easily read from the harbour. The stampers will Mad:— , •• "Welcome to the Men of the Navy." "Young New Zealand Greets and ...Thanks You." .- ."Your Deeds shall live in our Mem- . .'... :ory .for Ever." 1 The demonstration will only take place ■ if the weather suits.

■- ' - A 6"DID SCOTCH NICHT. A special meeting of the Wellington Scots Society will he held in the Scots Society's Hall (off Courtenay Place) on Wednesday at 8 o'clock sharp. The business to be dealt witli is to make arrangements for entertaining the men of • H.M.S. New Zealand. The society , will get in touch with tho Pipe Band on board the ship, and plans will be made for plenty of piping, dancing, and singing in . tho usual hearty .Scottish style. On Wednesday the question of work done in the direction of uniting all. Scottish interests in the city and district will be fully dealt with. All members, friends, and sympathisers will bo welcomed to the meeting.

Tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last evening decided to recommend to tho Clubhouse Committee that tho clubhouse bo thrown open for tho free use of the crew of H.M.S. New Zealand during their stay in ■'Wellington.