The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-09

 AT AUCKLAND
 =. New Zealand Welcomes. American Fleet. USUAL SALUTEs ExcHANGD
A Wesk of Ceremonies and
 Festivities Is Begun.
shortly After Anehoring Admiral sper= ry ana Ills stan -wsnt Ashore and Rafd ThsIr Respects
 to EoFd PIuhkitt.

Auckland. N. z.. Aug. s,--slxteen white ships, comprising the battleship division of the United states Atlantic fleet under command of Rear Admiral Charles s. sperry. arrived here at s:4o o'clock this morning and anchored in two columns in the roadstead abreast the city aftet a voyage of thirty-thr days from San Francisco, including a stop of six days at Honolulu. They Will remain here until next Saturday.
 When the warships entered the har- bor the usual salutes were exchanged between them and the. shore batteries and the Australian flagship Powerful, and the cruiser Encounter and Pioneer
 Shortly after anchorlng Admiral Sperry. accompanied by his stan. went ashore and paid hls respects to Lord Plunkitt, the Governor of New zealand, and afterwards visited William A. Prickett. the American Consul Gen eral The Governor and Mr. Prickett later returned the Admirars visit aboard the flagship Connecticut.
 This exchange of courtesies ended the brograrn of the first days stay of the American fleet in New Zealand wa ters but tomorrow will begin week of ceremonies and festivities for which inc most elaborate preparations have nGGn of the fleet on behalf of the government by the Prime Min lister, the Right Hon. Joseph George Ward the presentation of various ad- dresses. parades military reviews. ban auets excursions to nearby points of Interest and horse racing and various other sports. Tn the arrangements for the entertainment of the personnel of the fleet the various committees have paid great attention to plans for mak- ing most enjoyable the stay here of the enlisted men.
 The city Is elaborately decorated In honor of the visit of the Americans and thousands of persons already have come Into the city In order to assist in paving homage to the officers and men. Queen Street. the leading thoroughfare of the city, Is profusely decorated with dags and bunting, the stars and stripes and the union jack of Great Britain be- ing seen at every hand. The towns people are enthusiastic over the visit of their American cousins. and through out the day thronged the water front of the city to view the stately ships lying at anchor in the roadsted. As a special honor the board of education has changed the date of the Michael mas holiday and will give the school oh hlldren their weeks vacation begin niflR. tomorrow in order that they may join with tneir. olaers m mAklnB Lne stay of the American fleet a notable one.
 The fleet steamed to its anchorage in perfect fashion. The day was bright with sunshine and the sea shtmmered like a sheet of glass. The shores were lined with 5o.000 persons and the harbor- was spotted with the crafts of excursionists.
 It was an imposing spectacle and the spectator gazed in admiration at the power and majesty of the fleet. it's perfect alignment and precision in evolutions, which were completed without the slightest hitch. Passing the flagship Powerful, the bands of the visitors played the British nation al anthem and as the Connecticut passed it, the band of the Australian l flagship pealed forth the American
 The voyage of Admiral sperry's fleet was an uneventful one All the men ! are pleased with the cooler latitude