PRIDE IN VISIT

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

PRIDE IN VISIT

HISTORIC OCCASION PILOT CONGRATULATED RECORD DAY FOR PORT Pride in the visit of tho Empress of Britain was expressed by the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., at a meeting of the board yesterday. The board carried a resolution of congratulation and thanks to the Auckland pilot who handled the giant liner, Captain Beswick, the harbourmaster, Captain Sergeant, and other officers concerned. "In port to-day are merchant ships of a total of 170,905 tons gross," Mr. Bloodworth said. The previous record, established on March 8, 1937, was 144,891 tons gross. These totals did not include warships and coastal vessels. Ships in port included 18 of over 2000 tons, 13 of over 5000, nine of over 8000, five of over 10.000, three of over 12,000, and one of over 40,000, Mr. Bloodworth added. He said that

while the Empress of Britain was the largest merchant ship to visit the port, it was not the largest vessel, being smaller than H.M.S. Hood, which was accommodated at the same berth. The Hood was 861 ft. long and the Empress of Britain 760 ft., and the warship 106 ft. in the beam, against the liner's 98ft. The tonnages given were 46,000 and 42,348 respectively. Mr. Bloodworth recalled that many months ago a cable had been sent by the board to the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, suggesting that, owing to difficulties in the East, cruise ships might call at There had been po reply, but the Empress of Britain was now a visitor to the port. "To my mind is was a magnificent piece of work to bring that huge vessel alongside without a hitch of any kind," Mr. Bloodworth added, in referring to the work of Captain Beswirk. Captain Sergeant and other officers. "She came to rest alongside the fender piles of Prince's Wharf and you could not feel the slightest jnr." A resolution of thanks and congratulation to the officers concerned was carried by acclamation.

VISIT TO ROTORUA MANY PARTIES ARRIVE A SCENE OF ANIMATION [BY TELKGHAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Tuesday The various sightseeing placps throughout the district, particularly the Whakarewarewa thermal reserve, presented an animated scene to-day in consequence of the large number of tourists from the cruise liners Reliance and Empress of Britain, who are visiting the district. Throughout the day parties were arriving from north and south, and the guides At- Whakarewarewa had a busy time conducting them round the reserve. Many of the visitors are remaining overnight before continuing therr journeys on other sightseeing tours, and in the evening they were present at a Maori concert.