OUR DREADNOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 302, 14 May 1913, Page 5

OUR DREADNOUGHT

WARM RECEPTION IN LYTTELTON. SPEECH BY CAPTAIN HALSEY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurcli, Last night. To witness the arrival of ILM.S. New Zealand, large numbers travelled to Lyttelton this morning, and were rewarded by viewing the great ship coming up the harbour and berthing at one of the wharves. In addition to the Harbour Board's invited guests, who went out in the dredge "Canterbury," and other bodies who went out in small steamers, there was a large crowd on the Maori. A flotilla of vessels accompanied the warship in from the heads, where she anchored at 1 a.m. to-day. About 8.30 the anchors were up, and she was berthed shortly before ten o'clock. At eleven o'clock several official calls were made on Captain llalsey. In the afternoon, at the Theatre Roynl, Captain Halsey and several of his officers returned the call made upon taem by the Mayors of Christchurcli and the surrounding districts, the Chairman of tlie Harbour Board-, and the Chairmen of several local bodies. The proceedings were most enthusiastic, and Captain Halsey's speech evoked much applause. In the evening two hundred men from the warship were entertained at a smoke concert. At the civil reception to Captain Halsey and officers, speeches were given by thei Mayor (Mr. H. Holland) the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board,(Mr. R.'Moore), the President of the ■ Canterbury Branch of the Navy League (Mr. J. J. Dougall), and the President of the Veterans' Association (Mr. J. Triinbell). Captain Halsey, on rising to speak, received a great ovation, cheers following the applause, and "He's'a Jolly Good Fellow" being sung. After returning thanks, 1 Captain Halsey said- that he hoped that the citizens of Christchurcli would all come aboard to see the fine ship which the Dominion had given the Mother Country. They in the Navy had no politics, but he thought it was onlv right to say that the Government of the day, when the ship was given, was presi<l6d:..over by Sir -Joseph Ward. The gift of'tht! ship had been of the greatest value to the Empire in more ways than one. For one thing it had led other Dominions to do the same; thing, and caused possible enemies to see what Great Britain could produce in Greater Britain. There could be no doubt that the presence of the ship in the Dominion had made a tremendous stir in Europe. There was another Government in power now, and he wanted to give all honour to the present Government, who had so Heartily arranged for the comfort of the New Zealand in New Zealand waters. It was said, and he hoped always would be said, all over the Empire, that politics had nothing to do with the navy, and he was glad to see that this was exemplified as well in New Zealand. (Applause). Continuing, Captain Halsey pointed out the value ,of the school children's'visits to the ship. sp far. the ship's coriipany had received nothing but kindness in New Zealand, and he desired to return sincere thanks for all the kindness shown. He would only like to ask f.hat the people would not be ffver-'hosp'itable, for such was quite possible. He wanted I hem all to be reasonable, as he was sure they would be. He was thankful that Lyttelton harbour had been so improved as to make it possible for the | ship to come up to the wharf. The credit for bringing the. ship into th* I harbour s<s well was due to the Chief Pilot,; Captain. .Thorpe; and not to himself, as the Mayor had said. (Loud applause). MEDALS FOR THE CREW. Wellington, Tuesday. The- Government has decided to present silver medals to the members of the New Zealand's company, in commemoration of their visit,' also a.s a ken of appreciation of their conduct. The medals will be struck in New Zealand. VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH. MEETING OF CITIZENS. Nearly forty citizens responded Id (lie invitation of the .Mayor to meet last evening to make arrangements ;a con nection with the visit of the hiUlcOilp New Zealand to New Plvniou':!. on the 17th June. His Worship briefly explained the purpose; of the meeting,' and suggested that all present should form thcms-Jves into a committee with power to appoint subcommittees to carry out tlu" arrangements.

Mr. ('. T. Mills thought it advisable to :i npoint a small executive committee, which could manage the affair much bettor than a larger one. The Executive in turn could set up other committees, This view was supported: by Mr. T. C. List, who referred to the great amount of organisation necessary to deal with the antic-mated big- influx of adults and school children. One boat would be quite insufficient. and steps would need 10 be taken to secure a second boat. The Riirawa would bo available on that day, and whatever arrangements were made in respect to it. he had in bis capacity as Chairman of the Taranaki Expansion League been informed by the local manager of the company that no charge would be made for the school elildren. (Applause). In drawing up the arrangements, lie hoped provision would be made for a Maori welcome to the visitors, and Mr. Walker, the local interpreter, had kindly promised to take this in band. Mr. List suggested tliat an executive committee should be set up consisting of representatives of nil the local bodies, the Tourist and Expansion League, etc. This suggestion was subsequently agreed to, the committee consisting of two representatives from the Borough Council. County Council. Harbour Board. Tourist and Expansion League, Taranaki Education Board, end the Members of Parliament for the Taranaki electorates. Mr. Xewton King intimated that the Harbour Board bad appointed Mr. Bellringer and himself to act on behalf of the Board in connection with the visit of the warship, and their assistance could be relied upon in every way. (Applause). Mr. H. Okey, M.P., said he had got into touch with the Minister for Marine respecting the time of the arrival of the boat, etc., and Mr. Bell had telegraphed a reply to the effect that lie Was consulting Captain 1-lalsey on the matter. In regard to the Government steamers tendering the warship, the Min ister said: "You may feel sure that the Oovernment steamer will be fully occupied .by children, and will only carrv adults when all children are carried. You must bear in mind that unless the weather is really favourable, the ship cannot be tendered by either the Tutanekai or Hinemoa. They cannot lie alongside in any heavy swell."

Mr. P. S. Wbiteombe mentioned that the Kaimata sell no] cliildren were desirous of coining in the day before the arrival of the warship.

This !'"l the Mayor to remark that the securiiur of accommodation for children and others wanting 1 to stop over in the town would need to he one of the matters the attention of Ihe committee. Mr. Browne also mentioned that the Recreation Ground ■Sports Committee had intimated its readiness to take in hand the entertaining of any shore party from the ship.

Most of those present handed in their ' names as being willing to serve on any 1 of the sub-committees set up. Mr. E. H. Tribe suggested that the beat presents the public could give the crew were books and papers, and he ioped the public would bear this in mind and leave the literature aboard. Others spoke to a similar purpose. The Major said he would get into touch with tjic different bodies of the town at once, and arrange for a meeting of the executive committee without delay. Writes the Otakeho correspondent- of the Hawera Star:—The local school committee is doing some hard thinking, trying to devise a practicable solution of the proposal to allow the school children to visit the battleship New Zealand at New Plymouth in June. The train most suited for the people of the outlying districts leaves Hawcra at 7.20 a.m., which means calling children out of bed " about 4 o'clock to travel and be buffeted about for about fifteen hours • which, in this unreliable climate, is out of the range of reasonable achievement. After several lengthy discussions, the committee have decided to ask the Education Board for two days' holiday, so that the children may be enabled to travel to New Plymouth, view the oilfields and wells, Recreation Grounds and battleship, and return on the afternoon of the second day, thus removing the strain and stress, and at the same time providing an outing that will not only be an unique occasion, but one that wiil be both a pleasure and an education, lo which the News would add that, whilst about it, the School Committee should ask the .Board for four days* holi- 1 day instead of two, such to be deducted from the ordinary raid-winter holidays.