NEW LANDS

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

NEW LANDS

VIEWPOINT OF CKEW BREAK FROM MONOTONY AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION (By one of the Crew) Speculation was rife on board the Empress of Britain. It was her last seasonal trip from Quebec to Southampton and some six hundred and fifty members of the crew were looking forward to a spell od shore before rejoining for the world's cruise. Nothing new in a world's cruise, it happened every year, but it was a break from tho monotony of the Atlantic crossings. But an optimist had disturbed the equilibrium of the "around the world veterans,'-' —a whisper reported the ship to be abandoning the Japanese cruise in favour of Australia and New Zealand. Idle rumours arc abundant, the breath of life to a crew such as that of the Empress, a community comparable in many ways to that of a small town ashore. Wise men smiled tolerantly, sceptics smiled satirically. "A good crack," responded the American minded youths. But persistency persisted and a rumour became a fact when it was authoritatively announced that "the big ship was to do the Colonies." Previous Change ol Route

Only once previously had the Empress of Britain deviated from her annual world cruise itinerary since her launching in 1931, when in 1936, owing to the tense atmosphere in the Mejliterra nean she diverted her course from the Suez to the Cape, thus embracing Durban and Capetown en route. A memorable occasion this when it seemed that the entire populations of those cities foregathered on their shores with the hand of welcome. And now Australia and New Zealand. New territory again to the veterans—and food for thought. What were these lands like and what were the far distant cousins like? War memories Avith their associations, their friendships—the dark days, the glorious dawn, spontaneously returned to many, but a large percentage of a post war generation had no dim recollection of that large family gathering.

Impressions ol Sydney Speculation was rife —until the Empress steamed into Sydney Harbour and a wondering crew ceased wondering awhile and gazed. The magnificent approach, tne innumerable welcoming craft lustily acclaiming the big sister; the crowds off the water, on every conceivable vantage point, exchanging helloes and whistles with those on board; surely enough to dispel any doubt. And the Bridge. A masterpiece. Ships may come and go, impressions remain, and Australia and Australian hospitality has undoubtedly captured the hearts of the six hundred. Arrival at Wellington And New Zealand? No room for speculation after Wellington. Another wondrously beautiful harbour. Higher and more extensive peaks than Sydney, perhaps, affording finer points of vantage to the eager crowds awaiting the approach of the Empress. Hard to calculate the numbers on those beautiful green hills; harder indeed to estimate the strength of that unending stream of motor-cars crawling along their base. It bore some semblance to a huge crawling snake, from the decks of the ship. And the friendly thousands on the quayside with the "old country" written all over them. Mother was there a hundred times, and sister Flo! No strange land this and surely England wasn't so far away. And that send off; the old English songs; the voice from the heart of the crowd, "Goodbye, Cousins." One thought awhile, pondered: wandered back home and remembered the precarious situation in Europe. Slipped again to South Africa, to Australia and returned to that cheering crowd here in New Zealaijd with reassurance. Why worry—and we'll tell the pessimists. And now Auckland!