ICE AHEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23346, 15 May 1939, Page 11

ICE AHEAD

LINER DELAYED THE ROYAL TOUR BEKGS ENCIRCLE - SHIP KING TAKES PICTUBES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 14, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 13 The Empress of Australia is still steaming at slow speed and is most unlikely to arrive on schedule on Monday morning. She was 260 mfles south-east of Cape Race at midnight, ship's time. ■ • __ The liner made only one good run during the day, when the fog lifted for 20 minutes. She had made only 35 miles by mid-afternoon. Once, when the look-out man sighted an iceberg directly ahead, the engines were quickly reversed. s

Their Majesties, on the promenade deck, were able to see through the fog a whole field of bergs and floes. With deck blankets wrapped around them, due to the sudden change of temperature, Their Majesties stood by the rail and watched. The Queen remarked that it was like being in Arctic waters. Three look-outs are posted, including one on the forecastle and one in the crow's nest, and six officers are assisting in the watch on the bridge. The prudence of the commander in keeping the Empress of Australia at a standstill for many hours yesterday was shown when the fog lifted for a moment last evening to reveal that the liner was encircled by icebergs and icefloes, says a British official wireless message. The King was able to take snapshots of great icebergs close to the ship. The time of Their Majesties' arrival at Quebec is now uncertain owing to the delays.

The second anniversary of the Coronation of Their Majesties was celebrated yesterday aboard the Empress of Australia. The attendant cruisers manned ship and fired a 21-gun salute. The King gave the order to splice the mainbrace.

The battle-cruiser Repulse, which escorted the Empress of Australia for part of the voyage, has arrived at Southampton. Several ratings were injured in trying to secure a grating which came adrift in a heavy sea.

LATER ARRIVAL PROGRAMME ADJUSTED DAY LOST AT OTTAWA OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS (Received May 14, 5.5 p.m.) QUEBEC, May 13 Official functions for the Royal visit to the city of Quebec have been put back one day because the fog and ice have delayed the Empress of Australia, which is not expected to arrive before late on the Monday night at the earliest, instead of in the' morning. It is believed Their Majesties will prefer to remain on board ship after her arrival and disembark on Tuesday morning. Officials revised the plans when the delay to the liner became known. The Prime Minister, Mr. W. L. McKenzie King, told the House of Commons at Ottawa that, the functions in' Quebec city will be carried but on Tuesday instead of on Monday, while Their Majesties' visit to Montreal has been delayed until Wednesday. "

In order to adjust the schedule, practically one full day will be cut out of the visit to Ottawa. Under the rearranged schedule? the original programme in on Wednesday, except for the State dinner, will be dropped, but the functions arranged for other, days will be continued.

JEALOUSY AROUSED QUEBEC AND OTTAWA ROYALTY AND OFFICIALDOM (Received May 14, 11.30 p.m.) ? QUEBEC, May 14 Local citizens who had drilled for days for their part in reception of Their Majesties were greStlv disappointed when it was announced that the ship would be a day late, but the disappointment was greatly mitigated when it was learned that the Ottawa programme was the only one likely _to be cut. In fact',' there was some gratification that Ottawa was likely to claim less share in the proceedings It is no longer a secret that in many quarters it is felt that the capital and officialdom are claiming too large a share of the Royal attention. Many in social circles felt they had been edged out of a banqjiet or drawing-room in order to make room for a politician or his wife.

This has found open expression in a . loader in the Chronicle-Telegraph, Quebec's only English-language newspaper, which deplored the influx of visitors from Ottawa to Quebec, contending that since oue of the purposes of the Royal visit was to permit Their Majesties to come in contact with as manv of their subjects as possible, it would be better if Ottawa personages would "reserve the gratification of their social ambitions" until Their Majesties reached Ottawa.

WARMTH OF WELCOME

MAGNIFICENT DECORATIONS (Received May 14, 7.80 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, May 18 Messages reaching London dwell on the warmth of the welcome which awaits Their Majesties. The route along which Their Majesties will drive from Wolves Cove Dock to the Legislative Buildings has been elaborately decorated. and magnificent decorations adorn public and private buildings in Quebec, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. , One of the most significant ceremonies of the .tour will bo that of May 19, when the King will give the Royal assent in person to a number of bills in Parliament at Ottawa. A descriptive. commentary on tie arrival of Their Majesties at Que will be broadcast from D l aVc ' I J* : recordings will be broa caa • tervals.