THE JAPANESE VISITORS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 4 April 1907, Page 5

THE JAPANESE VISITORS.

A DAY IN MASTERTON. . Masterton wag visited, yesterday, by over 200 Japanese seamen from the cruisers Itsukushima, Hashidate, and Matsushima, which are now lying in the Wellington Harbour. As the time for the arrival of the train containing the visitors approached, .a large crowd wended their way to »the railway station. At 12.45—■ <nearly half an hour behind time- a special train containing the vifcitblrs steamed into the station, the plaitform had been harricaded off; tod the High School Cadets, in the absence of the Volunteers, formed a guard of honour. When the train pulled up, the public got their first inajght into the Japanese love of discipline. Not a man alighted from the train, not even a head was sho«n out of a window until the order was given. The carriage containing the officers, who were accompanied by Inspectors Dawson and Pearson, of the Railway Department, Detectives Cassells, Lewis and Rawle, .and Sergeant Hutton, representing the Government, waSj soon located, and the Deputy-Mayor (Cr E. McEwen), accompanied by Crs J. C. Ewington (Borough) and W. H. Beetham (County), the Town Clerk, Borough Engineer, and Messrs J. D. Cruickshank, W. H. Jackson, and J. C. Boddington proceeded to welcome the visitors.

The Deputy-Mayor, through an interpreter, made a brief speech of welcome to the officers. He said that the notice of their visit had been short, and he had not been able to do as much as he should have liked, to make their stay a pleasant, one. However, as much as possible had been done, and he was sure the visitors would enjoy themselves while in Masterton. Lieutenant K. Ueka, who was the chief officer for the day, briefly replied: "We are very glad to have I come here, and we must return our I many thanks for your kindness." I The men then moved off the platform. Outside a large crowd had gathered, and the Masterton Municipal Brass Band played a selection to which the visitors listened with interest. Several Maoris, under Moana Paratene then danced an impromptu Maori haka. The Japanese loudly applauded them. The Cadets lined both sides of the street outside the station, and the detachment marched to the town headed by the Band. ! They then dispersed to have, lunch in the various hotels and dining' rooms in the town. ■ After luncheon, the visitors passed the time seeing the sights of the town. Some made an inspection of shop wirr'oWs, rwhile others were busily encaged in making purchases of various articles, chiefly gloves, postcards, and books. Others again in groups in the streets, and were surrounded by townspeople, who endeavoured to learn as much as possible about Japan. What struck one most about the visitors was their uniformity in size. Some of the visitors do not understand the English language very well, but others again speak it fairly fluently. They smilingly submitted to cross-examin-ation by the public, and were-only too eager to impart any information sought after. A holiday had been declared at the School in honour of the Visit, and naturally tlie children were 'the''flay;''' They clustered around the' Visitors, and Sought surh things as Japanese silk handkerchiefs,. coins, and postcards. These, were given cheerfully; until the supply ran out. The officers, accompanied by several citizens, were shown over the Borough Council Chambers and then taken to the Park. The visitors were delighted with the Park, and spoke in high terms of praise of its shrubbery and the general laying out of the grounds. A Wairarapa Age reporter entered into conversation with one of the visitors, who had a good command of the English language. "How do ydu like New Zealand?" was. the pressman's first question. "We like it very much indeed; it so much resembles Japan, *' was the answer. The reporter then learned that the party that visited Masterton comprised 180 midshipmen and 25 lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, all in change of Lieutenant Ueka,' of theMatsushima. Altogether 1,200 men had visited the colony—4oo in each boat. Discussing matters relative to the training of men for the Japanese navy, the speaker went on to say that at the age of sixteen applicants entered a training college where they i spent three years. The curriculum at the college comprised mathematics, including algebra and geometry, chemistry, physics,, electricity, and other subjects. After spending three years in the college, the applicants presented themselves for examination, which, if they passed, entitled them to the position of midshipman. They then spent a year on a training ship, and at the end of that term another examination was held for the position of lieutenant. The present party left Japan in January last, and, all being well, they expect to be back in Japan in August next. The midshipmen who were in the present party would then sit for their examinations for lieutenants. They expected to leave Wellington on Saturday morning, proceeding to Brisbane, and then home via Batavia, Singapore, Shanghai, Hongkong, and Formosa. Asked how he liked the life on board ship, the midshipman smiled and shook his head slightly. He would not venture an opinion on that point, but he stated the men on board rose at 5.30 o'clock in the morning and put in the greater part of the day drilling. Nine of the midshipmen with the squadron had seen service in the Russo-Japanese War, but all the officers had been to the front. Lieutenant Ueka was engaged in the blockade of Port Arthur. The reporter asked what was the emblem on the brass buttons on the uniform. "They are the cherry flower and the anchor," said the visitor. "The cherry flower," he continued, "is the national flower of Japan. Unlike the cherry tree in New Zealand, which is noted for its fruit, the charms of the Japanese cherry tree lie in its beautiful flower." "You speak English rather well," the reporter. observed. This he smilingly refused to admit. He Went on to say, in reply to questions, that the English language was being widely learnt in Japan, much more so than either French or German. All the men with the squadron were able to speak English to a certain extent,

but, he added, the study of so maniC other subjects in Japan ( by a young man entering the prevented* him from giving too much time to* the study of languages. . The Japanese navy was modelled after the English style, but in the army, German' customs prevailed. The Japanese returned to Wellington by a train that left at 4.15 p.m. There was a large crowd on the station to see them off. As the train moved off, cheers were exchanged. Favourable comments were heard on all sides on the general demeanour of the visitors. i .