AN INCIDENT ON THE MOANA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 31

AN INCIDENT ON THE MOANA.

MR AND MRS GRATTAN GREY AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. (Feoii Ou*r Own Cobrespondent.) AUCKLAND, October 25. The San Francisco Call of September 22 gives the following account of an" incident which is said to have occurred on the Moanaon her last trip to San Francisco, and in which Mr Grattan Grey, late of the New Zealand Hansard staff, and his wife were the chief figures: — "During the run to Samoa a concer.t was given, and, following the custom on all British ships, ' God save the Queen ' was sung at the end of the programme. This did jiot please Mrs Grey, and she walked out of the social hall during the singing. From this time on the Greys were just tolerated by the rest of the passengers. A day's sail from. Apia Dr F. Bell, an American, was prevailed upon to give a lecture. Mr Grey and his wife attended, but asserted that the understanding was that " God save the Queen. r was not to be sung at the end of the lecture. The Rev. J. B. M'Havey, of Sydney, Ne.v South Wales, got up and began singing' the British National Anthem. Then -Airs Greywaxed wrath, and in a loud voice declared that in her opinion all Britishers were laclcing in courage. It was said she insulted Queen Victoria Then there was an uproar. Mr J. W. Rice, an Auckland passenger, took: up the battle, and Grey and his wife wero. nearly mobbed. The next dajr- tliere was an. investigation before Captain Carey. Mrs. Grey apologised to the captain, for her conduct, but refused point blank to apologise to the passengers. ' Nearly every passenger/ aboard is a British subject,' answered Captain Carey, ' and you have wounded them in a, tender spot. You must apologise, or else taka a seat; by yourselves. Every person aboard outside of the officers refuses lo associate with you.' Mrs Grey would not apologise, and in consequence during the remainder of the voyage she-ate her meals alone or in the company of her husband. They came ashore yesterday as soon as the quarantine was raised on, the Moana, and went to the Occidental Hotel. Mr Grey said last night that the affair had b*en, greatly exaggerated by the steamship officials, and some of the'passengei'3. ' There* were a lot of jingoes on board,' said he, ' and their manner was enough to make us leavo the room. They wanted to be singing " God save the Queen " at breakfast,' dinner, and supper, and we were simply tired of it. It* right to sing a national air on a particular occasion, but as for having it in the mouths of those about you two-thirds of the time, we thought there was no occasion for it, and my* wife; rather than listen to the constant repetition of the aong, left the room. I did not hear her pass any uncomplimentary words about tfee Queen. • I am quite sure that state- f ment is false. The captain did not tell us to remain by ourselves after the episode. We chose seclusion on our own account.' "