WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE QUEEN MARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 228, 23 June 1936, Page 3

WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE QUEEN MARY

A Blase Mariner

While the majority of New Zealanders would count it “a bit of a thrill” to see the magnificent liner Queen Mary ploughing across the oeean at 30 knots, the sight of even the mightiest of ships holds no attractions for a young officer on board the Huntingdon, at present visiting Wellington. The, Huntingdon, during her last trip home, passed the Queen Mary between Newport and Glasgow. “I was in my bunk at the time, and I wasn’t going to turn out for any ship, Queen Mary or not,” said the officer.

The first and third officers, as wpli as a number of the crew of the Huntingdon, saw the giant liner, which was proceeding to Southampton after her trials. She was sighted shortly after daybreak in the morning, fravelling to the southward at about 30 knots. She passed betwee ntbe Huntingdon and a tramp steamer, completely dwarfing the latter with her great bulk.

Members of the Huntingdon’s complement had had previous opportunities of seeing the Qneen Mary while she was building, and enjoyed a certain degree of familiarity with the liner’s aspect, they could therefore afford to be blase. But the appearance of a ship at sea is always a great deal more impressive than in dock, or beside the quay, and there are probably not many people in the world who would disdain to turn out. even in the chilly dawn, to gain a glimpse of the sovereign ship of the British mercantile marine.