Great White Fleet Visit to NZ - Postcards Located this excellent site to show all (most) of the postcards that were produced and used in the August 9th to August 15th 1908 GREAT WHITE FLEET VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. I have used their quotes (as they contain all the necessary information on this visit and issues) You need to click on the link to view all the thumbnail images (recommended) there. Also check out the AUCKLAND WEEKLY NEWS link for images of the local paper that was produced for this visit. Excellent information and images on this topic
August 9th to August 15th 1908 - 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." 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 firest 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 throught the city and
thousands of visitors, arriving by steamer, rail, and road, swelled the city's populaton. 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 it 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 landing ceremonies involved more than 20,00 people in Auckland's main thoroughfare, Queen Street, near the warf. The buildings of the city were decorated with American and British bunting.
Blue laws were suspended during the week of the visit as Americans and the military of the Dominion celebrated the visit together. These booklets were issued for the Fleet's visit.
The Fleet sailor was received with open arms in Auckland. People went out of their way to show them a good time at every turn. Over forty thousand picture postcards were mailed
from a special Queen Street post office open only to sailors, and this figure represented only a portion of their total mailings because of the many other post offices.
The news media noted that the American propensity to send postcards was "the advertisement of New Zealand."
The Fleet's visit included a trip inland to Rotorua, home of the Maori tribesmen. The fierce Maori were described as "the only savage people in the world never conquered by the white man.
" Admiral Sperry was part of the group that made the trip and was greeted by a Maori chieftan who embasrrassed hiim by shouting "Bully" through a mask of Teddy Roosevelt.
The chieftan had the admiral dressed in Maori battle dress and described how the Maoris were seafaring people had sailed in canoes all over the Pacific.
The Auckland Weekly News
The Auckland Weekly News