Hive of Industry

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 1

Hive of Industry

JAPANESE COAL SHIP ADMIRAL RECEIVES MANY CALLERS The official visitors who called upon Vice-Admiral Kobayashi on the flagship Idzumo this morning, and drank the health of his Imperial Japanese Majesty, saw nothing of the hive of activity behind the scenes. Replete with silk hats and spats, the members of Auckland's Consular Corps extended to the smiling and courteous admiral the felicitations of their respective countries. ... . . In the sanctity of the Admiral s cabin they toasted his Emperor, and cordially welcomed his training squadron to New Zealand waters. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, several hundred men, garbed for all the world like specially-prized exhibits from tombs in the Nile Valley, worked like bees in a hive, hauling baskets of coaL CADETS WORK WITH MEN The cadets worked like trojans with the men. Apart from their caps (which indicated their rank), there was no difference in their apparel. I At the entrance to the of the Vice-Admiral sat one of the busiest men on the ship. To this staffpfficer was allotted the duty of supervising the daily programme for the squadron. In essentially polite, if halting, English, he explained to-day’s proceedings: Morning.—Officers from the fleet to visit the Auckland schools. Visit by consuls and leading citizens to Vice-Admiral. Twenty' junior surgeons visit Auckland General Hospital. Afternoon. —Party of 150 officers and midshipmen to motor round Auckland and suburbs; tea at Ellcrslie Racecourse. Evening.—Dinner to Admiral at Northern Club. Party of 30 officers to visit Majestic Theatre. Demonstration of Maori dancing and physical drill on Idzumo by pupils from St. Stephen's School for Maori boys. A moving-picture entertainment which may be viewed from the wharf will be screened by the battleships between 7 and 9 p.m. to-morrow evening. The films will, of course, be Japanese. Arrangements have been made to provide the public with an opportunity of inspecting the two warships of the Japanese training squadron. The Yakumo may be inspected between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.iu. to-day and to-morrow, and both ships will be open to general inspection between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday. The squadron will sail for Suva at nine o’clock on Saturday. TRIBUTE TO N.Z. SOLDIERS Vice-Admiral Kobayashi visited Waikumete Cemetery yesterday and laid a wreath at the foot of the soldiers’ monument. He was accompanied by H.LH. Prince Takamatsu, Captain M. Hirota, commander of the Idzumo, Captain N. Idemitsu, commander of the Yakuma, Mr. I. M. Tokugawa, Japanese ConsulGeneral at Sydney, Mr. A. B. Roberton, honorary Japanese Consul. Colonel H. It. Potter and Lieutenant-Colonel J. JK. Duigan. Colonel T. H. Dawson, Captain S. C. Reid and Captain E. H. Sharp represented the Auckland branch of the i Returned Soldiers’ Association. PARTY TO VISIT ROTORUA ! On Friday a special train carrying i 40 officers and 185 men from the Japanese Squadron will leave for Rotorua. The journey will be made in a day. The train will leave Auckland at 6.53 o’clock on Friday morning, arriving at Rotorua at 12.45 p.m. On the return journey the train will leave Rotorua at 10.30 p.m. and will arrive at Auckland at 4.10 o’clock on Saturday morning. Special arrangements have been made to entertain the visitors during their short stay in Rotorua. The natives will gather at Koutu, near to the new meeting house. Tuneahaurangi, which is named after one of the ancestors of the people. At 3 p.m. on Friday when the visitors arrive, the usual native welcome will be accorded. After the admiral has replied, Manahi Rangiriri, a holder of Queen ! Victoria’s medal, will perform the I opening ceremony. I After this the Prince will be asked to open the building and to unveil the • name board. The visitors will then be conveyed to IVhakarewarewa under the ! care of guides, and at 8 p.m. they trill ! be entertained at a Maori concert.