LUXURIOUS YACHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 February 1935, Page 3

LUXURIOUS YACHT

UNEXPECTED CALL AT NAPIER DISTINGUISHED PASSENGERS A Napier telegram recently announced that the Rosaura had called unexpectedly and that the owner Lord Moyne had proceeded on to Taupo. _ This is tlie luxurious Diesel-engined yacht in which the owner and his friends are making a world tour. The vessel was formerly a Channel steamer. Lord Moyne, a former member of tho British Cabinet, has as his guests on the yacht Mrs Winston Churchill, wife of the British statesman; Lady Broughton, wife of Sir Delves Broughton, Bart. ; Captain and Mrs E. 0. Kcllett, and Mr Terence Phillip,j “We are just on a cruise,” said Mr Phillip, when the vessel called at Sydney recently, “and we arc going to see as much as we can before leaving to-night. We have had a most interesting voyage so far.” Since leaving England at the middle of December, the yacht has cruised through the Mediterranean, across the Indian Ocean, and through the East Indies. Sydney was the first Australian port visited. None of the visitors had previously been to Australia. The visitors spent most of the afternoon of their day at Sydney at the Taronga Park Zoo, as they were anxious to see some Australian animals (says the “Herald”). Their visit to the Zoo lasted more than two hours. Mrs Churchill obtained two pair of black swans to take back with her to England. Two Malayan honey bears and two small monkeys were on the yacht. The party was anxious to obtain a wallaby and other Australian fauna, hut they decided that the wallaby would he too difficult to take. Lord Moyne asked if he could have an opossum, hut although his request, was acceded to, the keepers were unable to match any of the opossums, which were at liberty in the trees on the outskirts of the Zoo. In the aquarium, the visitors saw tho large shark at close quarters. They were given permission to stand on a ledge within a few feet of the monster. Tho party spent the evening ashore, and rejoined the yacht shortly before she sailed for Now Zealand. The Rosaura is a. graceful craft of 1552 tons gross. She was acquired by Lord Moyne after his former yacht, the Roussalka, sank in August. 1933, through striking the Strathlin Rock, off the coast o’f Galway. Although the yacht sank in seven minutes, all those on hoard at tlie time escaped in the boats. A small pet monkey, named Gandhi, also escaped from tho wreck, and ho. has since boon the mascot of the Eosaura. The vessel was built in 1905. and engaged in the cross Channel service for nearly 30 years as the Dieppe. When purchased by Lord Moyne last year, she was refilled, and had her turbine engine replaced by. Diesel engines. The interior is furnished in modern style. An extensive library, a, phonograhp, a wireless set, a special sports deck, and a swimming hath wore among the comforts provided for the yacht’s passengers. Lord Moyne has held many important military and political appointments. Before iiis elevation to the Peerage in 1932. ho was Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Edward Guincss.