FAREWELL AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 14

FAREWELL AT LYTTELTON

Britannia Sails For Chathams

“See you later, alligator,” yelled a group on the Lyttelton wharf. And the Duke of Edinburgh, from the deck of the Royal yacht Britannia promptly responded: “In a while, crocodile.”

Elderly folk in the crowd of well over 500 on the wharf gasped at this exchange, but the young people who predominated howled their delight. They were the Duke’s last words before the gap between the yacht ana the wharf widened, and illuminated over all, the vessel moved in stately fashion through the moles, down the harbour, outward bound for the Chatham Islands.

But it was Sir Edmund Hillary who really stole the show. He had been on board for dinner with members of the New Zealand Antarctic party, and just before the gangway was lifted an equerry rushed down with his scarf and overcoat. His teammates cheered in derision and the Duke of Edinburgh cried “You 11 need th This was the spirit of informality which pervaded the last evening of the Duke of Edinburgh in New Zealand. On board the Britannia for a farewell dinner were the GovernorGeneral (Sir Willoughby Norrie), the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), the chairman of the Ross Sea Committee IMr C. M. Bowden), the Chief of Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral J. E. H. Mcßeath) and the director of the Australian Royal visit (Mr W. J. Jungwirth), and all the members of the New Zealand Antarctic party. The menu was grilled sole, chicken and salad, and an ice, “Bombe Lyttelto Half an hour before the yacht sailed the Duke could be seen in the foyer talking with his guests, and then he led them to an upper deck to show them his gift X class yacht. Yacht Inspected Earlier they had had inspected the whole vessel. “You should have seen the engine-room. You should have seen the radio. You should have seen the dining room. We’ve got some bang on ideas for the Endeavour,” said members of the Antarctic party. With the Royal Marine Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy playing on the wharf and the Britannia’s band responding the Duke’s guests came down the gangway. The GovernorGeneral, the Prime Minister and others drove away imediately after making their farewells on board, but the New Zealand party stayed to the last. When the gangway was - lifted the crowds behind the barriers on the breastwork were admitted to the wharf and for the last few minutes were able to call their farewells to the Duke, standing only 12ft away on the lower deck. By this time the weather was fine, with passing clouds. “How are you doing, matey,” called a man who had been celebrating the Royal visit. “As well as you are,” laughed the Duke without a moment’s pause. “See you again soon,” called another man.

“Yes, just drop in,” replied the Duke, pointing to the water. Good humour prevailed among the crowd waiting, at the barrier.’ There were frequent exchanges of badinage between the spectators and the police on duty. But there was a tense moment when a young woman who the barrier was stopped by the police and told to go back. She protested volubly and was gathered up by two constables and dragged struggling and screaming io the public side of the barricade.

Ratings from the Canterbury division of the Royal New Zealand Volunteer Reserve cast off the lines, the crowds surged to the end of the wharf as the yacht moved off exactly on time at 11 p.m. With cheers and songs of farewell ringing over the water the Britannia moved out under the Southern Cross.