New-York tribune., 1908-08-13
ADMIRAL AT R0T0RUA
WELCOMED BY. MAORIS.
american Officers Tisit Ne1o lea
lands Hot Springs.

In the thermal dlStr1ct-NeW HedloHu " ~
land. it has been aptly named-as the guests
of Prime Minister Ward ana d oelesa'f'n %
members of Parliament.
pos,aos attending the ceremonies incident to
tba onenine Of the new government bath ana
receiving a hearty though peculiar welcome d.
the hands of great assembage OF Niao
tribesmen an opportunity was ahoroeu 'io
Americans to visit many of the strange ho"As
Of nature in the northumberland anu Siii0'
eevsers the roaring steam pit at I1kltere' di.N
the no,It-c -colored lakes of hot. cold and temper
rate waters The village OF the Aaoris ai'o was
on attraction to many of the officers Many
Americans visited the nearby cemetery "hei0
lie the bodies of Europeans killed in the erup-
ton of 1886.
Af+.r the ceremonies of opening the new bath
had been completed the Maoris in large num-
hers dressed in their odd costumes, greeted the
American admiral and his officers Al hrst 'iie
chief of the tribesmen, according to ancie"'
rites challenged the visitors, desiring 10 hho"
whether they came in peace or in war haVlls
received assurance that the mission was peace
mi one the air resounded with the yells Oh the
tribesmen. and there a stamping of frenzled
foot in tbe war dances and the hakka dances.
The Americans greatly enjoyed the weird scene
and admired the suppleness and grace of the
dancers.
Admiral Sperry, in a graceful speech thanheu
the Maori chief for the welcome OF the trloes-
men and for the entertainment which they had
afforded himself and his officers. The chlef
made felicitous reply, in the course of which
he brought smiles to the faces of nearly every
one who heard him by remarking: We sent our
warriors to meet you. you are all warriors
seafaring men, Had you been ordinary people
we would have sent the women first
The Maoris presented to Admiral Sperry and
the American officers many valuable tribal heir
looms
The American officers will return to Auckland
tomorrow in order to attend a reception given
in their honor in the evening by W. A Prick
ett the American Consul General
The town is still crowded with visitors. Shore
leave was granted again to-day to several thou
sands of the enlisted men, who were taken on
short excursions and entertained at the theatres
At the Savage Club tonight many of the Of
fcers who did not accompany Rear Admiral
Sperry will he entertained.
The American supply ship Culgoa VIII sail on
Saturday for Brisbane. arriving there on the
10Th The Glacier and the collier Ajax have been
sighted The hospital ship Relief has arrived
here with four boilers leaking. Repairs VIII be
made by the fleet.
A rife shooting competition was held here this
morning between teams representing the city of
Auckland and the American battleship fleet.
The match resulted in victory for the Auck-
land team. which scored 2,311 points. The score
Of the American shooters was 2.246.
Auckland. Aug 12-The principal official
entertainments in honor of the officers and men
of the visiting battleship fleet now at an
end Thursday, Friday and Saturday being de-
voted TO sports and minor entertainments.
After the races at Ellerslie, Admiral Sperry
and two hundred officers of the fleet went as
the guests of Prime Minister Ward and the
Members of Parliament to Rotorua. in the
thermal district. in the heart of North Island,
III miles from Auckland. by rail Here they
will visit the boiling springs, geysers and medi-
cnal baths, and witness the ceremonies of open
ing the fine new bathhouse. Excursions will be
made to other points of interest near Rotorua-
The visitors are expected to return to Auckland
on Friday.
The men of the fleet have conducted them
selves we'll and have made most favorable i'm
preston upon the people of Auckland. Any
trifing disturbances have promptly been put
down by the feet patrol. The men have had a
thoroughly good time shore. They have
been entertained almost constantly with theatri-
Gals, dinners and sports and have expressed
their liking for Auckland and the people of the
city in unmistakable terms The sailors have
shown themselves ready spenders, and by the
time the fleet departs the shopkeepers of Auck-
land will have reaped a rich harvest. The men
crowd the curio shops day and night, purchas-
ing souvenirs of the country, and they have
mailed quantities of picture postal cards
TO friends at home. All this is regarded an
excellent advertisement for New Zealand. The
weather during fleet week has been glorious.
The non-commissioned officers of the New Zea-
land garrison entertained at Drill Hall tonight
the non-comnissioned officers of the American
and Austraasian ships There were also
series of sports and entertainments for the en-
listed men. and the officers who did not go to
Rotorua were guests at a dinner at the Orphans
Club.
The Governor of New Zealand Lord Plunket
has received a cable message from President
Roosevelt, but its contents have not been made
public.
Admiral Sperry, the American commander in
chief, has received dispatch from the Governor
fectonate greetings and the wishes of the Gov
ernor for the continued prosperity of the United
States and Great Britain In his reply the
American admiral conveyed his heartfelt thanks
He said that America and Australasia, in work
ing toward and realizing the ideals of freedom
in a community of interests and must continue
to live in sympathy and mutual understanding
The warmest friendship. the Admiral said
marked the intercourse between the two states
PREPARATION IN JAPAN.