ENSIGNS CHANGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22623, 28 April 1948, Page 6

ENSIGNS CHANGED

VISITING SHIP CEREMONY R.N.R. MASTER ARRIVES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 28. An unusual marine ceremony in which a merchant ships’ Red Ensign was replaced bv the Blue F.nsign w«» held in Wellington yesterday aboard the motor- ship Port Pirie. The Port Piri° is c• •’ - r ”"r merchant ships in the world entitled to fiv the B'ue Ensign in place of the usual “Red Duster." and vesterdav the flags were changed to with tne rival aboard of her master. Captain W. ,T. Enright. The Admiralty’s nermission to fly the Blue Ensign is given oniv when a ship is commanded bv a R N.R. mas’er and has in her crew sufficient men to form a min c r ew. The Port Pirie has these qualifications. but as Captain Enright, fine been on leave in Australia t.h« ship was ->t Brisbane fHe vessel ento-ed Wellington commanded bv Captain C. Post flvmg the Red Ensign. When Cantain Enright returned from 'eav° ypctnrday th- shin’s bnuipr sounded !'■>“ “Still" and as he came uo the eangwav thf> Red Fnsjgri ws lowered and replaced the Blue Ensign. Captain Enright, who served as a R.N.R. capta'n in the First Wnrid War recent marri'd a Nuv 7paland->r and hones to s»t*’es in Auckland when he retires from tbp sea