FRANCONIA ARRIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 9

FRANCONIA ARRIVES.

touring the world.

400 EAGER PASSENGERS.

LOOK forward to dominion VISIT. 2fot so very long ago a voyage round tie world was looked upon as an adventure extending over many months, and even years. What a different prospect was before the passengers on the supercruising liner Franconia, of the Cunard jjne, which arrived in the Waitemata shortly after G o'clock this morning. Auckland was not too kindly disposed jji her welcome as far as weather was concerned, when the great steamship poked her nose into Rangitoto channel and came majestically round the North Head. As the anchor was being dropped the beauties of Auckland harbour were shut out in a dense mist. Then it rained. But those 400 world tourists from England, the Continent, and America were a lighthearted crowd of travellers whd were all agog with suppressed excitement at reaching this "young Britain of the South," and particularly Auckland, of which they had heard so much. Then the sun shone out, and as the beauties of the landscape became more defined, more apparent, many were the expressions of delight to be heard on all sides. As the magnificent liner swung into her berth at the Queen's Wharf, one of her American passengers, who was gazing np harbour and in the direction of Prince's Wharf, turned to a group of his admiring friends, and with a wave of the hand, remarked, "Just like li'l old ye w York, eh? My, this is great.' ' This cruising liner has already visited many places of interest since she commenced her world tour, under charter to Messrs. Thos. Cook and Sons, the well-known tourist firm, and there are just as many, if not more, places to be seen By her party, but judging by the v remarks heard on board this morning, ' everyone is looking forward more than ever to their stay in New Zealand. Durjng the five months they will be on their floating home they will travel 35,000 miles, visit 21 countries and colonies and 60 cities and other places of intenest.

Perfect Arrangements. Everything on board is done with eloekwork precision. There is no bustle, no coa|usion. Each passenger has his of her instructions in a handy booklet, «d there seems to be hundreds of itewards and other people in uniform wio appear to be able to answer any question put to them. As a matter of hot, many of these intelligence men blow just as mueh, if not more, of New Zealand and Auckland as any native born. Before the Franconia was "tied up" tbere was a fleet of motor cars waiting to whisk the 400 passengers away to visit pretty Auckland and its suburbs. Many asked particularly if they would be going to the top of Mt. Eden, because they had heard of the wonderful panorama, even if it was raining. Each car was numbered and each passenger had t corresponding number. They simply walked down the gangway and went to *1 * v car 33 the y had known it all ttfif lives. It was a perfect system of organisation which has been characteristic of all Thos. Cook and Sons' world tonrs. Returning to the floating palace at 11.40 a.in.. the whole party had lunch, «fter which 210 of them left for Rotoma at 1 p.m. by special train. The reorder had this afternoon free, and morrow will be spent in motor drives M and about the city. On Sunday the New Zealand main as it > s called, consisting of 157, leave at 8 a.m. by special train for itotonia, arriving there at 1.35 p.m. Tjfo special trains will convey both parties from Rotorua, one to TaumarWrai, from which place the 210 will go •town the Wansranui River and on to e ington, whilst the partv consisting of 107 will return to Auckland at 7 p.m. on Monday, subsequent to which the franconia will leave for Wellington, Jiilford Sound, and other parts of the *oria.