P. AND O. LINER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 11

P. AND O. LINER.

> i NARKUNDA ARRIVES. 600 PASSENGERS ON CRUISE. DELATED BT HEAVY FOG. Carrying 600 passengers, most of whom were on a cruise from Australia, the P. and O. liner, Narkunda, berthed at King's wharf at 7.30 this morning. She had been delayed by a heavy fog through which Bhe travelled down the coast. She met the fog at about 6 a.m., and was an hour late in berthing. Apart from that it was a voyage made in good weather, and the Christmas and New Year festivities on board made it a most enjoyable passage. There were no untoward incidents of any kind. Usually the departure of such a cruise ship from Sydney is accompanied by scenes of gaiety on the -wharf. On this occasion, however, the Narkunda sailed at midnight on Christmas Eve, and as it was almost impossible to get taxis in the city that evening there were not many people present to farewell her, and her crowd of passengers." The vessel will sail again at 11 p.m. to-morrow, and in the meantime most of the cruise passengers will be occupied on various excursions arranged by the Government Tourist Department, or private Right -seeing. The reputation of New Zealand horses on the Australian turf, and of the beauties of Ellcrslie, seemed to offer attraction to many of the passengers who were bound for the races. Others went on trips to Rotorua and the Waitomo Cares. A ! tour to the Waipoua Forest had also been arranged, but owing to the flooding in the north this had to be cancelled. Among the few passengers who landed at Auckland were Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong is principal assistant to the Colonial Secretary of Fiji, and has been on a six months' holiday visit to the Old Country. He and his wife will await the Niagara in Auckland. Mr. E. C. Cox, who was until recently traffic manager of the Southern Railway, England, was another passenger who landed here. With Mrs. Cox he will spend some weeks visiting various resorts. The Narkunda is mostly engaged on the England-Australia run, though she has made some trips to the Orient. The 17,000-tonner was laid down during the war, and since then has been in continual service without accident. With her three black funnels, and buff Upper works she is not ,as attractive in appearance as many other tourist vessel*, but her buff colouring has its utilitarian use in the tropics where it is not so bard on the eyes as is the usual white paint.