Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-08-08
PLAN BIG WELCOME TO FLEET
Auckland Gaily Decorated in Honor Of
Visiting Warships.
ARRIVAL SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY
After Elaborate Reception Ceremonies
Officers and Men wflI BE Taken
on Excursion to Exhibition
Points on Island.

AUCKLAND, N, a., July 6.-The Ameri- |
can fleet, on its arrival in Auckland harbor |
will anchor in two lines abreast OF the |
city, the first having for its center tht
Australian flagship Powerful and its con
sorts, the Encounter and Pioneer. On Sun
day., August 8, the day scheduled for the
arrival Of the fleet, there will be no public
display, but official visits will be ex-
changed.
On Monday the admiral and his officers
will land at Queen street wharf, fine
new quay built of ferro-concrete, being
part of a new harbOn scheme to cost
e1, 10000. On the shore end Of the wharf,
which is almost in alignment with Queen
street (the main thorohghfare), will be
erected a dias upon which the visitors
will be formally welcomed by the prime
minister, Sir Joseph Ward, the other mem
bers Of the cabinet and representatives of
the various towns, boroughs and country
districts of the dominion. The prime min
lister, on behalf of the government and the
people of New Zealand. will welcome the
American visitors. The ry.lre minister will
make presentations to President Roosevelt,
and Admiral Sperry on behalf of the gov
ernment and the people of the dominion
A procession will then be formed, the route
being through Queen street to the military
| hall in Wellesley street Immediately be-
hind the latter is Albert park, the mu-
nicpal building and the art gallery, the
! latter containing the finest collections OF
books, pictures and art treasures in the
| dominion.
| Adjacent to Albert park overlooking the
city, is the residence Of the governor, Lord
Plunkit. Queen street the main artery of
the city leading from the port is wide and
] 80 f,olf
| contains the principal places of business,
the banks, etc, including the office Of the
| American consul general
Elaborate Decorations for Sailors.
The scheme Of decoration included two
| arches, one at the entrance to the city and
the other in front of the military hall. On
the arrival of the visitors at the military
! han they will be accorded a civic welcome
I by the mayor, Arthur Myers. on behalf
of the citizens of Auckland An address
will be presented accompanied by an
artistic souvenir portfolio to be presented
to the admiral. The principal officials will
! lunch with the mayor at his home, while
the remainder Of the officers of the land
ing party will lunch at the Northern club
and the Auckland club
! The military review probably will be
| held on the domain cricket ground beau
tiful spot on the eastern side Of the city.
On Wednesday there will be races at
! Ellerslie, about five miles from the town,
and the finest race course in New Zealand.
Rotorua TO which large party will pro-
coed on Wednesday, is Ill miles from
Auckland by rail and the journey will be
made in the afternoon, so that the Amer
lean visitors will spend only a couple OF
hours at the races Rotorua is the town
mutu and extending to Taupo. in the heart
of the north island On Thursday morn
ing the beautiful bath house at Rotorua
will be opened and in connection with this
function there will be a great Maori gath
erinE-Maori war dances, etc. Wharka-
rewa about a mile from the township by
road. comprises about two square miles of
boiling springs, geysers and medicinal
baths. Some Of the geysers play fire.
} uuently and no doubt one or two Of the
larger geysers viii be induced to perform
by the administration Of a bar of soap.
This is not good for the geysers' health,
but II is resorted to on such great occa-
sions as the present. Then the sight Is a
magnificent one, huge volume of water
ascending some fifty feet or more and
descending like a cataract boiling and
Kissing into the bowels of the earth
Much Like InIernaI Regions.
| Among other sighJs TO which the WIS.,
itors will be treated will be Tillltere, which
is the nearest conceivable approach to the
| Internal regions. Furthern afield are Wal
munga. which very few years ago was
one Of the most tremendous geyssrs in the
world, the pressure of water and the ex-
! plosions being almost volcanic in their in
{ tensity There is now only an awesome
cavity in the earth's crust, surrounded by
? boiling springs and rushing torrents. In
close proximity is Mount Tarawera, which
, was In eruption some fifteen years ago
and laid desolate the surrounding villages
, In the mountains side is an immense gap
which is one of the sights pointed out tc
, the tourist. There are several great lakes
, hereabouts, over which the visitors will
be ferried in gasoline launches. Some OF
the lakes are cold, but one of them ID
, quite hot the water varying in the love
Hest shades.
, Wairakei, which Is the objective OF q
more distant excursion, is fifty mileS south
, OF Rotorua, and It's thermal activity pro
: