Auckland, New Zealand
“At the wharf the landing stage was covered with palms and ferns and signs of "Kia Ora Koutou" (Maori for good luck) and "Haere Mai" (Maori for "welcome to you"). About one hundred yards up the street was an immense arch with "Welcome!" on it. The entire length of the highway on both sides as festooned with the beautiful lycopodium fern." Franklin Matthews
The entry to Auckland Harbor included a new formation for the fleet, the "S" Formation. It was designed as a snaking movement to enhance the perspective of the Fleet movement into the harbor.
"Despite the day, the early hour, and some local confusion concerning the fleet's arrival time, it was estimated that approximately 100,000 people-ten percent of New Zealands's populaton- lined the shores of the Waitemata Harbor and Rangitoto Channel to watch as the mist cleared, revealing sixteen gleaming white - and buff-colored battleships led by the Connecticut." an extract from Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet.
The scene in Auckland as the Fleet approached was one of intense activity. The evening before the arrival the first train of the new North Island Main Trunk Railway set out from Wellington to Auckland with Prime Minister Ward, his cabinet, and many members of Parliament, which had adjourned for the duration of the Fleet's visit. Finishing touches were being put on extensive decorations throughout the city and thousands of visitors, arriving by steamer, rail, and road, swelled the city's population. With the unconsciousness of world travelers, the American Fleet had the temerity of approach New Zealand's shores early on Sunday morning. At 7:10 am on August 9th, as a mist began to lift from the calm surface of Hauraki Gulf, the maritime training ship NZS Amokura broke the early morning silence with a thirteen-gun salute to the commander in chief of the approaching ships.
The Great White Fleet had reached Auckland, New Zealand.
Regards
Sean
