NOT ATTENDING RACES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 101, 23 January 1936, Page 10

NOT ATTENDING RACES

Prime Minister’s Decision ALL SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS CANCELLED Full mounting for the late King George V will be observed officially until after tbe funeral next Tuesday by the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage who has cancelled all social engagements. It was announced yesterday that, although the Prime Minister had agreed to present the cup to the winner of the principal race at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, which opens to-day at Trentham, Mr. Savage had now decided not to attend the races. THE ROYAL SALUTE Prolonged Gunfire Yesterday Roseneath and- Oriental Bay residents found the State mourning for the death of the Sovereign assumed a particularly personal significance yesterday morning, wheu thc military and naval salutes were fired. Thc number of guns considerably exceeded anything that the majority of people had experienced before. The firing of the Roseneath guns is always something of an ordeal for nearby householders, and the sloop Wellington took up a prominent position in the stream for the ceremony. As the concussion of gunfire "has a particularly devastating effect alike on wooden bungalows and reinforced concrete apartment houses, the firing was something that will not lightly be forgotten.

People out on Oriental Parade at about 9 a.m. saw the Wellington move from her berth at Clyde Quay Wharf and anchor in the stream, between the boat harbour and Pipitea Wharf. At 9.30 a red flash and a puff of white smoke broke from the warship’s quarter, and a moment later the stunning report echoed and re-echoed in the hills around the port. A minute later she fired again, from the other quarter, and continued at minute intervals, firing alternately from port and starboard, at minute intervals, until 10.40, making 70 guns, the most that had disturbed the peace of the harbour for a good many years lias been 21 guns. The firing' of the Wellington’s guns was loud enough to shake the windows of houses, rattle crockery and cupboard doors, and drive almost every dog in that quarter quaking and whining 0 its kennel. It was interesting to notice that high buildings, hills and even gusts of wind had a deadening and blanketing effect on the tliunder of the Royal Salute. Passengers on the Eastbourne ferrysteamer Cobar must have been fairly deafened, for the starboard gun fired when the Cobar was almost abeam of the sloop. Loud as the naval salute sounded, that of the military authorities at Point Jerninghani was louder. The first gun took by surprise the occupants of one of the nearer houses, only about 100 yards away. The faithful watchdog, a cocker spaniel puppy, bolted into a cupboard. After the first half-dozen explosions, the occupants of the bouse hastily retreated fo the shelter of Evans Bay, and did not return until after the Airing, which ceased at 11.50. The firing of the whole 1-10 guns took two hours 20. minutes.