MAJESTIC ENTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23012, 13 April 1938, Page 17

MAJESTIC ENTRY

SCENE IN HARBOUR AWATEA LEADS WAY NO HITCH IX, BERTHING TASK QUICKLY COMPLETED Well out toward Tiri the Empress of Britain, coining from Wellington, was met in the early morning by the Harbour Board's launch Waitemata, conveying Captain W. Beswick, the senior pilot, who was to bring in the liner. At this point the transtasman liner Awatea, arriving front Sydney, drew ahead of the big ship and led her up the Kangitoto Channel, providing an additional spectacle for the waiting crowds. / Cars in hundreds were .lined along the whole length of the waterfront road, and large groups of people could be -seen on most, of the high points on both sides of the harbour, including .Mount Victoria, North Head, Campbell's 'Point and Orakei. It was even possible to make out a number on the roof of the War Memorial Museum.

Escort of Small Craft Some early arrivals had taken their places on tlie end of Queen's Wharf by 6.30, while others waited on the footpath commanding a view of the basin between Queen's and Prince's Wharves. The Mechanics' Bay waterfront was also lined with people in cars and 011 foot, and the Devonport and Stanley Bay" Wharves carried crowds of spectators. The first glimpse of the liner from the city was to be had when her masts and three greaj buff funnels appeared over this low ground between the two North Shore hills. Soon her bows came in sight beyond North Head, and she was silhouetted against the bright pastern sky beneath a bank of heavy grey cloud. She was decked from stem to stern with .flags in honour of the occasion. Impressive Picture Slowly she turned and began to make her way majestically upstream, accompanied by the tugs William C. Daldy and Te Awliina,, the excursion steamer Duchess and a number of small craft. The Awatea, meanwhile, had moved over a little nearer North Shore, and Captain A. H. Davev proceeded to take her in to her berth at Queen's Wharf without the aid of a tug, executing the task with case. •

While the grey morning lightened, until the sun gleamed on her lofty white sides, the Empress of Britain drew nearer and nearer, the two tugs nosing gently against her to counter any drift due to the northerly breeze, It was almost low water, with a slight ilood current. As she approached, ferry steamers cut rapidly across her path, a couple of speedboats executed circles round her, and an aeroplane hovered overhead. Berthed in 20 Minutes Like any other overseas vessel she was brought diagonally toward her berth at Prince's Wharf. To turn her, the Te Awhina pushed aft, while the William 0. Daldv, which had passed a line on board just forward of the bridge, pulled in the direction of the port quarter. When the liner's towering bows were comparatively close to the corner of the wharf, the port anchor was dropped, and as the turning movement was completed she moved easily inward. A bow line was made fast, and in 20 minutes altogether the task had been completed as smoothly and with as little fuss as if 40,000-ton liners were berthed at Auckland every day. Easy as it seemed, such a result was not obtained without the greatest care and forethought. Responsibility for manoeuvring the |iner was shared with Captain by Captain W. G. Busk-Wood, her commander, and Captain J, E. Spring-Brown, her coastal pilot, who as master of the liner Aoj" a "gi and other large vessels has had unequalled experience in working the port of Auckland under all conditions of wind, and tide. The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, directed operations on the berth. A Maori Welcome The chairman of the Harbour Board, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., and the board's senior officials watched the liner's arrival from the flat roof °f one of the wharf sheds, which made an excellent vantage-point. On the roof JJ'as also a troupe of 24 Auckland Maoris, in native dress, who performed songs and hakas for the entertainment the liner's passengers. Many of the latter watched with interest through the windows of ] the promenade deck, and many snapshots were taken. Circumstances have arisen which have ted to Ij?te abandonment of the proposal that the Municipal Band should play the ship away on Friday.