OUR DREADNOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 302, 15 May 1913, Page 5

OUR DREADNOUGHT

I AT LYTTELTOft / CHILDREN'S DAY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Favored with fine weather, Children's Day on H.AI.S. Xew Zealand passed oft" successfully without a hitch. To-day, in all, over 11000 children from the city schools and 1000 school teachers) and committeemen visited the ship and were shown over it. The arrangements madefor carrying out the inspection were complete and successful, and the children were greatly interested in and pleased with what they saw on every side. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The arrangements by the railway authorities, who ran a double service during the day on the Christchurch-Lytte'ton line, worked out excellently. In the afternoon, on Lancaster Park, a football match was played betweea teams representing the warship and the Territorials. The match resulted: Territorials. 2(ii H.M.S. Xew Zealand 8. To-morrow, sports will be held on the Metropolitan Trotting Club's grounds at Addington, and a big attendance is anticipated. SAILORS IX THE COUNTRY. Ashburton, Last Night. A detachment from the New Zealand, consisting of 1!)7 seamen and 22 mariners, under Lieutenant North, arrived in Ashburton at 9.45 this morning, and returned to Lyttclton at C p.m. They were heartily welcomed and royally entertained by people of Ashburton borough and county, who turned out en masse to see them. CONSIDER THE COUNTRY 'CHILDREN. To the Editor. Sir,—l was pleased to rend in ye-iter-dav morning's News that at the meetingcalled to discuss arrangements for the visit of the New Zealand to Taranaki's chief port the question of accommodation was broached. This, from the, country people's point of view, is a mo<t important matter. We who are living far away from New Plymouth, anil not served by rail, and at too great a distance to make the journey to end from the port .by horse-drawn vehicles in one day, will be debarred from allowing our children to participate in this unique event unless suitable stop-over arrangements can be made. The means of con- ■ veyance could be arranged, but the accommodation would prove a stjinblimj block to many who are not fortunate enough to possess friends in New Ply- / mouth, and who would find it impossible* " to obtain accommodation at the hotels and boarding-houses, which are certain to be taxed to their utmost. Would It. i not be possible to arrange to billet some of the children in the Drill Hall on the Monday and Tuesday evenings! Some could then arrive on Monday, see thij l vessel on Tuesday morning, and return home that day. Others could arrive on Tuesday morning and return on Wed- " nesday. At Auckland; many of the' country children were billeted in thte way. Then there is the question of the' \ school"holidays. Would it not bo pos-' sible for the Education Board to grant a week's holiday during "Battleship' Week," in lieu of the winter holidays, * which will be due a week or two later?' —I ail), etc.,

PARENT.