MAIDEN VOYAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22429, 27 May 1936, Page 13

MAIDEN VOYAGE

LINER QUEEN MARY ROYAL PARTY'S VISIT KING TRAVELS BY AIR HER MAJESTY'S GIFT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 26, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless ' RUGBY. May 25 After a tour of inspection of the liner Queen Mary which lasted three hours and a-half to-day, the King returned from Southampton to Fort Belvedere by air.

His Majesty had travelled sto Southampton by air, and before landing at Eastleigh his aeroplane circled over the docks so that he could obtain a view of the great liner from above.

Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family joined the King on the liner. The first thing they saw in tho foyer was Her Majesty's own personal standard, with tho inscription: " Gift from Her Majesty to the ship which bears her name." Luncheon and tea were taken on board. Tho other members of tho Royal party remained for an hour after the departure of the King and subsequently returned to London by special train. Four hundred workmen who are putting tho finishing touches to the liner's decorations before she sails for New York on Wednesday were given a holiday to-day. Hundreds of tons of express cargo which • the vessel will carry across the Atlantic include many personal gifts from British senders to friends in the United States, inscribed with particulars of the ship's historic maiden voyage.

EXTENSIVE TOUR KING INSPECTS ENGINES PRINCESS ELIZABETH'S THRILL LONDON, May 25 King Edward left Fort Belvedere by air to-day for Southampton to inspect the liner Queen Mary, to which the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Princess Elizabeth travelled by train. Guided by Sir Edgar Britten, commander of the vessel, the Royal party made an extensive tour of the liner.

Her Majesty devoted special attention to the kitchens, and Princess Elizabeth enjoyed the delights of the children's playroom, where she slid down the chute. Later the King and his brothers inspected the engines, all of which were in motion. The visitors expressed amazement at the lack of vibration.

Princess Elizabeth's great thrill was when she was allowed to press a button which sounded the Queen Mary's giant siren, the deep boom of which was heard for miles. The visitors saw the lifeboats swung out, and the Queen was astonished to learn that they held more passengers than the Cunard Line's first steamer, Britannia.

King Edward and Queen Mary signed photographs of themselves for the ship, and all of the Royal Family signed the visitors' book. The Queen said the vessel was even more beautiful than she had expected. The King wore a black suit and a straw hat, and on driving out from the dock to the aerodrome he waved to the crojvd with a pipe in one hand and a match in the other.

SAILING OF SHIP BROADCAST COMMENTARY DESCRIPTION OF DERBY British Wireless RUGBY, May 25 The British Broadcasting Corporation will broadcast on Wednesday a commentary in connection with the sailing of the Queen Mary. The broadcast will take place between 2.15 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. (Greenwich mean time). A commentary on the Derby will be broadcast at 3.45 p.m. on the same day.