ISLANDS CRUISE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23429, 19 August 1939, Page 17

ISLANDS CRUISE

VICE-REGAL TOUR RETURN TO AUCKLAND WELCOME BY THE NATIVES HAPPY SPIRIT PREVAILS Admiration of the manner in which the Governor-General, Viscount Galway. and Viscountess Galwav paid their visits to islands in the South Pacific during the cruise of the Achilles was expressed yesterday by members of the ship's company after the warship returned to Auckland. Lord and Lady Galway were brought across to the city shortly after the cruiser berthed, being given a salute as they left the warship, and motored to Government House. They left last night by train for Wellington. Officers and men of the cruiser were particularly impressed by the way in which Lord and Lady Galway met the occasional necessity to be taken ashore in native canoes. Because of reefs it was sometimes impracticable to use the ship's boats, and frail native craft were employed instead to shoot over the coral ridges on the crest of the rollers. Undaunted by the very real hazards, Lord and Lady Galway often made shore trips in boats that sailors had no hesitation' in saying they would not have cared to use themselves. Uncomfortable Experience Their Excellencies had one uncomfortable experience. At Danger Island the canoe carrying Lord and Lady Galway was swung broadside about by a heavy wave, and the native boatmen had to jump overboard on to the reef to right it. Apart from a wetting, however, the Governor-General and Lady Galway were unharmed. Comment was also made about the happy manner in which pieir Excellencies mixed with the' Islanders. Where native banquets were held Lord Galway 'sat down cross-legged with the Islanders and ate as they did, with his fingers. Whenever Lord Galway attended a children's gathering he took tins of sweets ashore with him and gave them to the young natives. This was invariably the signal for a burst of cheering, since such delicacies were almost unknown to most of the children.

. Interest in Ratings Their Excellencies also took an interest in the welfare of the ratings. Every Saturday the captain makes an inspection of the ship, and on the first Saturday at sea Their Excellencies accompanied Captain W. E. Parry round the mess-decks and bathrooms to see how the men lived. Last Sunday, after divisions, the ship's company marched past Lord Galway at the salute. The Achilles visited 17 islands in the six weeks she was away from Auckland, and everywhere the native population gave the Governor-General warm assurances of their loyalty to the British They coupled with this their readiness to take part in its defence, and at mari3* parts the visitors were impressed by the signs of military training. Murder at Pago Pago At one port of call, Pago Pago, in American Samoa, tlie visitors learned that a murder had been committed shortly before they arrived. A native had beheaded another native with a knife. Exceptionally good weather accompanied the vessel on its cruise, and even coming down from Niue seas were so calm that the warship was able to reach port on Thursdav night, anchoring between Tiritiri and Rangitoto until vesterday morning, when she berthed. When Lord and Lady Galway arrived at the city they were met by the Mayor, Sir' Ernest Davis, the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. W. B. Darlow, and officials.