UNITED STATES FLEET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2262, 6 August 1908, Page 2

UNITED STATES FLEET.

ONLY 1000 MILES AWAY. A SEAMAN MISSING. United Press Association, Copyright (Received August 0, 1.1-5 a.m.) MELBOURNE. August 5. Router’s received the following wireloss telegram from the -fleet at 8 o’clock last night: ldl 7 miles distant; weather cooler; sea moderate. Albert E. lieisel, a seaman on the battleship Wisconsin, is missing. He was last seen on the morning of the .‘list. A board G f investigation inquired into the circumstaces of his disappearance. It was shown, that Moisei was noticed to he in a melancholy mood after receiving a- letter handed to him on the 28th ult. The finding of the board was that ho probably committed suicide. AN INDUSTRIES DISPLAY. VISITORS ARRIVING IN AUCKLAND. [Special to “Times.”] AUCKLAND, August 5. The first part of the programme ol festivities arranged for Fleet Week was inaugurated'this morning in the opening of the Auckland branch of New Zealand industries in a spacious hall temporarily erected on the Town Mall site. The exhibition- was opened by Mr. Gray, senior City Councillor, in the absence of the Mayor, who is suffering from a severe cold. Mr. F. E. llaiimc, M.P., also addressed and congratulated the people of Auckland for their efforts, and suggested that as the linking of the Main Trunk line was an accomplished fact, it would behove the Auckland manufacturer to bn wideawake as to the commercial advantages which the line would bring. A steady stream of visitors have been going to and fro. Although the weather is very wet, visitors are arriving'in large numbers for Fleet “Week, and business is becoming brisk in all departments. It is understood .that the s.s. Flora, which is due from the South on Friday, will return to Gisborne for a second trip if necessary.

SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 5. To cope with the heavy inilux of visitors which will almost certainly set in towards the end of the present week, the steamship companies concerned arc making special arrangements. -Some 170 passengers arrived bv the Rotoiti from New Plymouth, Wellington, and Nelson to-day, while 200 arrived by tlio .Moana, via the East Coast, on Sunday, and 250 more will reach here by the Waikaro tomorrow. The Union Company will also run tbe Flora oil a special trip, arriving in Auckland oil Friday with 150 passengers, and the same vessel, if necessary, will double-bank by returning to Gisborne for more. On the West Coast the Rotoiti, leaving to-day, returns from Wellington without calling at Nelson, and should land 220 visitors at Onehunga on Sunday, the Takapuna from New Plymouth 'bringing a siriiilar complement on tbe same day. The HuddartParker Co.’s steamer Wimmera should bring to Auckland on Sunday 300 more. Altogether it is calculated that tbe Union and Huddart-Parker Co.’s on both coasts will have accounted for about 1000 passengers for the week ending Sunday next. The Clansman, which left Russell for Auckland last evening has 88 passengers on board.

AUCKLAND PREPARATIONS COMPLETED.

The Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers), in conversation with a “Star”’ representative, stated that all the arrangements in connection with the reception were now practically completed. The chairmen of the Various subcommiteees bad waited on the executive and had reported that all the preparations were so well advanced that if the fleet were to arrive now everything would be practically ready. The illuminations on the harbor (Mr. Myers remarked) would present a very fine spectacle, commencing from Mount Victoria, and along the warships. with the electric lamps on the foreshore. “There is little doubt,” said Mr. Myers, ‘“that the chief feature of the programme is the providing of suitable entertainment for the men. The arrangements are very complete in that respect.”

THE AUSTRALASIAN SQUADRON. Vice-Admiral Poore, of the Australasian Squadron, has intimated to the Mayor that he lias approved of that.part of the programme affecting the British warships. The arrangements referred to provide for the officers and men of all three warships, and include the reception at the Military Hall, the military review, the races on 'Wednesday (for officers), the lunch at the Mayor’s residence, the banquet in the evening, and the reception by the Mayor on the Tuesday. The Powerful will leave for Sydney early on the Thursday morning of fleet week. This will prevent Admiral Poore from accompanying the party of officers to visit Rotorua on the Wednesday.

The Australasian Squadron of His Majesty’s Navy have an Association Football League called the “Navv League.” The team of H.'M.S. Powerful have to plav a combined team from the other warships, which will arrive here next week, and the game will take place in the Domain probably on Thursday or Friday next.

JOTTINGS. “The Fleet visit,” said one number pf Parliament in discussing the position, “lias come at an awkward time in that the elections are coming on and the opportunity of spending a clear week in their district is one that many members cannot afford to lose.”

The Minister for Public Works and Railways (the Hon. W. Hall-Jones) will not take part in the first trip over the Main Trunk. The Hon. R. M‘Nab will visit the South during “Fleet week.” The remainder of the members of the (Ministry, with the exception of the Hon. J. Carroll, will, it is understood, proceed to Auckland.

With regard to the health office arrangements in Auckland for fleet week, Dr Purdy states an official will ho on duty all night at the Health Department, so that the department will he practically running on the lines of a bureau of public health. In the cases of any infectious diseases being notified bv telephone to the department, arrangements have been made to have the patient isolated should the medical attendant consider such a course necessary. Special provision has been made at the Auckland District Hospital for the admission of any cases that may occur during fleet week. A naval authority, writing to a London paper about the lessons taught the officers and men on the visiting waighips from the United States, says that by the time they return home next spring they will be the host seasoned sailors "in the world, sailors who have, month in and month out, carried out a regular system of war training under aIT the conditions to he met with in the circumnavigation of the world.