FLAGS LOWERED TO HALF-MAST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 100, 22 January 1936, Page 17

FLAGS LOWERED TO HALF-MAST

Salute From the Ships

HOW MANY FOLK LEARNED THE NEWS

Early yesterday afternoon, when the first mournful bells tolling out over Wellington announced the death of the King, shipping in port set ensigns at half-mast, according to the ancient traditions of the sea. To hundreds of Wellington people, along the waterfront, and in the outskirts of the city, the bells and the lowered bunting were the first indication of what had taken place. Watchers on- a vantage point above the city saw the dipping of the flags all round the harbour as a single coherent gesture of sorrow at an event that had taken place at the other side of the world, little more than an hour before. It was an unforgettable sight.

From the slopes of Mount Victoria, overlooking Oriental Bay, the harbour and wharves and all the business area of Wellington, a commanding view of the city may be obtained. Yesterday sunshine and a clear atmosphere ren dorefl the scene particularly vivid and colourful. There were nine or tea big ships in port and -numerous coastal craft. Shortly after noon their house flags and ensigns flapped gaily at their mastheads. Here and there the Blue Peter indicated the intention of a steamer to put to sea. Over at the, Queen’s Wharf an unfamiliar ensign, the mercantile colours of Japan, flapped at the stern of a foreign visitor. Behind the wharves, over shipping offices on Customhouse Quay and Featherston Street, one or. two houseflags could be seen. The clear tones of a clock striking one attracted the attention of three .voting people picnicking on the hillside. They admired the panorama

spread out at their feet, commeiPed on the shipping in port, and turned their conversation on the one topic of universal anxiety —the King’s illness Then two curious things happened. A small cloud, like cotton wool, the only one in sight, trailed its faint shadow across the harbour and the town. And a silence fell on the hillside watchers, as when old-fashioned folk say ‘‘Au

angel is passing.” Suddenly another bell tolled out once. But It was 10 minutes past one. A minute later it sounded again, ' The picnickers, reclining in the sunshine, sat up and looked cityward. The bell continued to toll. A subtle change had come over Wellington. The bathers at Oriental Bay had splashed ashore, and were talking in groups on the beach. The scrap of scarlet bunting at the Makura’s truck was suddenly struck, then readjusted at half-mast. There was a pause in the clatter of winches handling cargoes. The White Ensign at the stern of the sloop Wellington was dipped. One by one the flags of the other ships followed suit. In the town itself, a great many more flags than before were flying, but all in the manner that denotes, public mourning, and those that had previously been at the masthead were lowered. The bells

continued to toll. Presently a small white-painted scow came steaming up Port Nicholson, and she too bad her flag hoisted, not at the truck but in the shrouds. On the Japanese steamer a minute figure could be distinguished at the stern, as a solemn little seaman from Nippon lowered the red sun on the white

ground. The picnickers on the hillside watched until the bells stopped tolling, and then went quietly home. It was perhaps a slight gesture that they had seen, the lowering of a hundred flags h. a port more than 12,000 miles from London. But it marked a great event, the closing of an epoch longer than any of their lives.

RELIEF WORKERS To-day’s Stoppage The Minister of Employment, Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, stated last night that relief workers who normally would have been working to-day and who are engaged on classes of work in respect of which holiday concessions are customarily granted will not be required to work to-day and will be paid as though they had worked. In the case of men whose relief earnings are supplemented by the employing authority, the payment, of the amount of the employing authority’s contribution will be a matter for that authority’s decision. This statement applies to the bulk of the relief workers. SCHOOLS’ VACATION No Special Arrangements Called For On learning of the death of the King the members of the Wellington Education Board, who met early yesterday afternoon for a committee meeting, immediately postponed the meeting. In view of the fact that the schools ■are taking the summer vacation, the passing of his Majesty has called for no special arrangements by the Education Board.