LIVELY FAREWELL SCENES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 8

LIVELY FAREWELL SCENES

Sailing of Rangitata GUARDS BAND AND NAVAL PARTY Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 18. Not many liners of late have had so hearty a send-off as that accorded the Rangitata. which left Auckland tonight for London, taking with her the Grenadier Guards Band and eight officers and 150 Imperial ratings from H.M.S. Dunedin who have completed three years’ service in New Zealand. Long before 5 o'clock, the announced time of stilling, some thousands of people had gathered alongside the liner at the Queen’s Wharf. The departing naval men were accompanied to the ship by hundreds of .civilian friends. Men and women and ratings from the Dunedin and other ships turned out in force to bid their comrades good-bye. The cruiser’s long paying-off pennant of white and scarlet, with three golden balloons fastened to its tip, floated from the mainmast of the Rangitata. The band, gorgeous in scarlet and gold lace, mustered high up on the after end of the boat deck and at intervals played lively marches under the baton of a be-medalled sergeant. The music was much appreciated by the crowd on the wharf and by hundreds of non-travellers who had been allowed on board the liner. Some of the naval draft struck np a verse of “Far Across the Sea.” and the band played “Auld Lang Syne,” many in the crowd singing. Some more delays, another march played by the band, and then the vessel" began to move away from the wharf. The huge crowd was a forest of hands, waving hats, naval caps, handkerchiefs and bunches of many coloured paper streamers. Shouts from the departing sailors were returned many times over. The band struck up “The British Grenadiers” and finally the National Anthem. As the bandsmen lined the boat deck rail, some waving their instruments. the bandmaster, Major G. Miller, appeared in their midst wearing mufti, and twice led his men in three deliberate vociferous cheers. No one could doubt that the band was leaving with happy memories of New Zealand and its people. As the Rangitata passed Devonport Naval Base on her way out of the harbour the flagship flew a farewell signal and sent final good wishes in bright flashes of a morse lamp.