THE QUEEN'S HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22429, 27 May 1936, Page 18

THE QUEEN'S HOME

MABLBOROUGH HOUSE PREPARING FOR RETURN TWENTY-SIX YEARS AFTER [FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT^] By Air Mail LONDON, May 9 When Queen Mary mores into Marlborough House early this autumn, she will find it almost exactly as it was when she left it 26 years ago to become Queen. Many of the carpets and curtains in use when Queen Mary lived there with King Oeorge as Prince and Princess of Wales have been kept in storage ever since. They have been looked after so carefully that they are still in perfect condition, and, by the Queen's own wish, they will be replaced in their old positions. Queen Mary, as all her close friends know, has happy memories of the days she spent at the big red house with its lovely gardens that look on the Mall. Now, with the passing of her husband's reign, she wants to spend her years watching her son facing the same responsibilities on the Throne, while she is surrounded by the things that remind her of those young days. She decided not to have Marlborough House altered at all, except the essential repairs, and additions to bring it up-to-date. Magnificent Rooms

The great dining room on the I ground floor, where 45 people can sit down to dinner, is not being touched. The magnificent drawing room, which leads out of it, with a smooth parquet floor that makes it an ideal room for evening dances or receptions, is not to be touched either. Upstairs, on the first floor, tho small dining room, where Queen Mary will take her meals when she is alone, is being modernised by the provision of electric hot plates and a new service lift from the kitchens in the basement. Queen Mary's private rooms—her study, boudoir, and bedroom —on the same floor, are being made more comfortable, and the hot water system is being modernised. She has chosen her own wall papers and paint. Many of the papers, in old-fashioned designs, are those she remembers from the old days. Satin-striped papers, with plain grounds, in whites and ivories, are among Queen Mary's choice for reception rooms. ' Accumulated Furniture Corridors and ante-rooms are to bo carpeted in the same rich crimson as the corridors at Buckingham Palace. Curtains and hangings in the formal chambers are to be of the same shade. There will be little, if any, new furniture needed for Queen Mary's new home. At Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Sandringham House, there is a great quantity of furniture which is her personal property, much of it accumulated by her in the past 25 years. For many weeks she has been engaged in sorting this out, deciding which pieces she wishes to take with her, and which are to remain, or to be sent into storage.

ORDEAL IN BREAKERS ONE FISHERMAN DROWNED COMPANION THROWN ON ROCKS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, May 21 At the mercy of huge seas off the Maronbra cliffs, near Sydney, after a hooked fish had torn away the rudder of their launch, Messrs. Robert Smith and Frederick Dean had a terrific fight against unequal odds. Mr. Smith was drowned, but Mr. Dean reached safety after having been three times washed on to the rocks and drawn back into the ocean. When the launch was about 80 yards from the rocks, a huge wave broke over it, practically filling it with water. The engine by then had been switched off, and Mr. Dean made an effort to use the emergency oars. Mr. Smith dived overboard, and swam farther out to sea, away from the menacing rocks. Another wave swamped the launch, which capsized, throwing Mr. Dean out. Coming to the surface he found himself trapped beneath the upturned launch. A third breaker swept the launch free of Mr. Doan, who seized the keel and clung on until he recovered his breath. He was again washed off the launch, which was tossed on to the rocks, where it was badly battered. Turning, Mr. Dean saw his companion about 200 yards at sea, and, realising that he could not reach him, burdened as he was with heavy clothing, struck out for the dangerous rocks. His hands touched them three times, and he was drawn back into the sea, before he was at length thrown out of the water. In the meantime two men in another launch were striving desperately to save Mr. Smith, but could not approach within 30 yards of him, owing to a surface reef. The men shouted directions to him and threw him a rope, but Mr. Smith suddenly threw up his hands and disappeared. The body was found caught between two submerged rocks. Apparently Mr. Smith's feet had become wedged, and he was unable to release himself when the men threw him the life-line.

ALSATIANS ON GUARD A MOTORIST'S TREASURES [from a special correspondent] By Air Mnil LONDON, May 9 Fourteen Alsatian dogs guard the new Headley Common estate of Sir Malcolm Campbell, the racing motorist. Each is attached to a stout wire 30yds. long, fixed to a staple in the ground at various points round the 90-acre estate. Within the house are some of the most prized motor racing trophies in the world. In the red-tiled garage beyond the house is the world's most famous car—Bluebird. Although Sir Malcolm has said he will not race the car again he has found Bluebird can bo improved to add at least 25 miles an hour to her record-breaking speed of 301 miles an hour. Lady Campbell, referring to the Alsatians, said: "These elaborate procautions have been taken because of thy isolated position of the house and because there have been lobberies in the neighbourhood recently."