H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 10

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

9 ' REVIEW OF HER VOYAGE. iiAS TOLD BY MB. CLUTHA " MACKENZIE. Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, son of the High iCommiasioner for New Zealand, is ill Wellington at present, having made the trip out from England as the guest of Lord Jellicoe on H.M.S. New Zealand. Mr.. Mackenzie intends to settle in New Zealand, probably in Wellington, where he hopes to develop ways and means of pursuing his bent for journalism, having in January ceased publishing the "Chronicles of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force," of which lie was editor.

In conversation with a Dominion reporter, Mr. Mackenzie gave an interesting resume of the voyage of H.M.S. New Zealand. "After the armistice," he Baid, "the New Zealand was sent to Norway to bring the Queen (King George's sister) and her son, Prince Olaf, on a visit to England. She then went down to 'Devonport, where die was recommissioned for her present cruise The old crew were paid off, and mighty sad they were about it, aB they had made many friends among New Zealand soldiers, having entertained thousands of them at the Firth of Forth. Having heard so much about New Zealand, and being saturated with the history of the ship, they were looking forward with great pleasure to a visit to the Dominion. Having shipped a new crew, the warship went to Portsmouth on February 20, where she was joined by Lord Jellicoe. She left the next day during a heavy rainstorm. Just previous to moving out, however, the Queen Elizabeth, with Admiral Sir David Beatty on board, steamed in ahead of the Grand Fleet; and was given a tremendous reception. The picture must have been a wonderful one, with the big "Lizzie" steaming past the gift Bhip of New Zealand, and Nelson's Victory in the background. Off Ushant the New Zealand ran into foul weather, and for a time she was practically under water. Then she stemmed into fine weather and made Gibraltar on February 24. The Admiral went ashore on an inspectional visit, and left the next evening for Port Said (retfehed on March S), the advent of the flagship being welcomed by a flight of seaplanes. A DISAPPOINTMENT. "Admiral Jellicoe left the ship there on an unofficial visit to Cairo, and the next day the vessel steamed through the Canal. It was anticipated on board that the New Zealand troops at Ismailia would give their own ship a reception, and the band was paraded and the New Zealand Ensign flown at the fore, but owing to the Canal Company having intimated that the New Zealand would pass three-quarters of an hour later* than she did there was nothing doing. All that could be seen from the deck was troops marching in column in the sandy distance. It was a keen disappointment to all on board, as it must have been to the men ashore. At Suez the Admiral rejoined the. ship and she continued on her way. A call at Aden was made for mails, and Bombay was reached on March 14. Lord and Lady Jellicoe landed that evening, and if the place were not "in full" durbar" it must have been something like it, for there were pavilions, red carpets, and flags everywhere. The ship remained ! there for some six weeks, only moving out once to visit Karachi. In the meantime the Admiral visited the Central Provinces of India, and consulted with the Viceroy on Indian naval defence and was entertained in regal fashion by rajahs and maharajahs, and went tiger shooting with the Maharajah of G'iilior. I fancy the Admiral bagged two i tigers and his staff got four.

SIOTS IN INDIA. '■' At that time there were some very serious riots in progress in different parts of India, notably at Ameritz and Lahore. At Delhi, too, things looked rather ugly for a time. Fortunately the native troops retrained loyal; still there were some thirty sahibs and a number of loyal troops killed, and some of the railway stations and banks were burnt by the rioters. Severe punishment was meted out to the offenders, who were arrested, and the thing to blow over.

April 30 the New Zealand left Bombay for Colombo, anf whilst the vessel was coaling for two days the ship's crioket team gave the Ceylon Cricket Club's team a licking. The spicy isle was left behind on May 4, and four days later the New Zealand crossed the Line, and Father Neptune took; charge of things for the day, even Admiral Jellicoe being a willing victim to Neptune's royal behests. The next day they steamed alongside the bones Of the notorious German raider Emden, as they lie almost out of sight in the surf or the beach of the outer island of the Cocos group. A party went ashore, only to find that the wreck *had prafctically disappeared. An hour's run' brought the vessel to the main island, where the Eastern Extension Company's staff came aboard and were hospitably entertained for an hour by the Admiral. On leaving the ship they were presented with gifts of frozen meat and copies of his book, "The Grand Flest."

"On the run down to Albany two Japanese cruisers were passed. Tliey came curiously close to the flagship, saluted, and paid high tributes to the Admiral by wireless. An enthusiastic welcome was accorded the vessel at Albany, the streets being profusely decorated with arches and flags. That evening the Admiral and Lady Jellicoe left for Perth, accomplishing the journey ton a narr9w-gauge railway) in fifteen houra. They spent four days at Perth, during which time the Admiral inspected the naval base at Fremantle. The crosscountry train journey was made interesting by the crowds of farmers and children that greeted the visitors at every station. Both Lord and Lady Jellicoo are very fond of children, and when at one station the train had to stop for an hour and a half because of engine troubles His Lordship went for a walk in the bush with some fifty children, and had a rare old time. "On Wednesday, May 21, the New Zealand left Albany for the east, called lo inspect Port Lincoln, a very fine harbor in the South Australian Bight, and arrived at Port Adelaide on May 25. There were three days' festivities there, and Melbourne was reached on Thursday, May 29. The Admiral landed at St! Kilda the nest day, and drove through throngs of enthusiastic people. A lively fortnight followed—races, dances, receptions, and inspections. "TURNED DOWNI" "On June 14 she left for Hobart, but .though the N«w Zealand wm * dew

ship the authorities would have nothing to do with her, so, after lying there for twenty-four hours, she left again, made the passage of the D'Entre Casteaux Channel to Huon Bay, and from there left for Jervis Bay (N.S.W.), where the Australian Naval College is located, ,the time intended for Hobart being given to the Bay. AQUATIC WELCOME AT SYDNEY. "We arrived at Sydney on June 23, and were given a fine aquatic welcome, thousands of small craft, decorated with flags, wheeling round the ship as she made for the man-o'-war anchorage in Farm Cove, Owing to .the prevalence of the influenza all official functions were abandoned ashore, but leave was given to the men freely enough. Influenza we have had with us at Home for a couple of years, and are getting used to it. With the exception of Albany, influenza was experienced at every port we called at during nearly a four month' cruise, but we have never had a case on board, THE ADMIRAL'S INTENTION. "We were to have left Sydney for Wellington on July 0, but for some reason or other that was cancelled. That is why I have come over in another vessel. I hope it is not becauser« they did not want the New Zealand here, as the officers and crew are built up on having a good time here. Admiral Jellicoe's plan was to go north and visit Townsville, Port Darwin, and Rabaul (New Guinea) before coming to New Zealand."

Asked what form of entertainment the ward room officers preferred as a general thing, Mr. Mackenzie answered without hesitation; "Good golf links and cars to carry them both ways "