KEEN INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 4

KEEN INTEREST

STRATHALLAN'S VISIT

Causing more public interest than any ship which has visited the port for some time, the 23,722-ton P. and O. liner Strathallan, which was berthed at Queen's Wharf No. 1 south yesterday, was visited by about 2000 people during the afternoon. Men, women, and children queued up along the- outer tee of the wharf, and for one and a jhalf hours the visitors poured aboard in a steady stream and wandered around the commodious vessel. During the lunch hour, too, many visited the wharf and inspected the Strathallan's exterior. When the time came for the Strathallan's departure practically every vantage point around the city seemed to be occupied. She was originally to have sailed for Sydney at 6.30 p.m., but police investigations aboard delayed her until 8.25 o'clock. A large crowd on the wharf witnessed the liner leave her berth and make her stately way, lights ablaze, towards Point Halswell and the open sea. From Oriental Bay, Point Halswell, and the bays around to Seatoun, too, she was watched by motorists and others eager to catch a glimpse of the last cruise ship of the season. Many watched from the hilltops, and, were well rewarded as the Strathallan made her way through the calm harbour waters on one of Wellington's perfect evenjings. .