OUR DREADNOUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 3, 4 June 1913, Page 8

OUR DREADNOUGHT.

VISIT TO 'THE BLUFF.

CROWD GET OUT CfF HAND.

HOSE TURNED ON THEM.

Per Press Association.

Invercargill, Last Night. The battleship New Zealand 1 dropped anchor outside' the BluIT harbor shortly after ten o'clock. Thc'first visitors were those of the official party, and welcoming speeches were made by the Mayor and others. Captain Halsey, in reply, said that the children of the Dominion were receiving an object lesson which would do good in the cause of the Empire. The officers and men had been ] created with heartiest hospitality, and he was very glad .the battleship was to visit Russell because it was there that the Maoris had signed the Treaty of Waitangi. He was very proud to have anchored off Sir Joseph Ward's constituency, because he recognised that the presentation of the battleship was his idea. It was not for the navy to enter into politics, but,he thought t.hev should, give credit to the Government -in power when the gift was made. About twelve thousand people from all parts of Southland visited the Bluff to see the battleship. Arrangements had been made to enable school children to be taken out on tefcderihg steamers, and this worked well for several hcur?. Early in the afternoon, however, the crowd at-the wharf burst the barriers, and rushed the wharf and the steamers. This resulted in considerable delay, and on the Tutanekai the (hose was turned on the gangway to keep the* invaders back.

I The weather throughout 'the day was J showery, but on the whole the arrangements made for handling the cfyowd worked fairly well. The battleship sailed westward through the Straits in the evening, (riving a brilliant searchlight display, which was visible from Invercargill.