QUEEN SALOTE RETURNS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16986, 9 March 1923, Page 3

QUEEN SALOTE RETURNS.

Queen’s Wharf. Auckland, presented a ,‘icene of unusual animation on Saturday morning when Queen Salotc, of Tonga, who left by the Navua. was gi\':*n an affectionate farewell by a large gathering of friends the • New Zealand Ueiald ”). Accompanied by hoi* three small sons. Prince George, Little Tutuahcc. ajid t John, the Queen was homeward bound to- her island kingdom after a fourmonths visit to Auckland. During her stay she has won popularity among a wide circle of friends. md thev assembled in full force on Saturday to give her a right roy d send-off. For an hour before the X-inia let* Ibe dusky Queen held court in the ship’s lounge, receiving many beaut i fill bouquets ami signing photograph* for a host of friends. She was not i.pprermtion ol Auckland** hospiUliry. and to say how delightful tlm trip had been. She spoke villi enthusiasm «>t the visit she made to Rotorua, tic i i hernial wonder.-, appatently haling | c really interested her. When tlie time for Hu* JiipN d* par ,„r,. cin'v- war rnH 'hr- ..-Her ” »1I ; visitors ashore ” was *uven. Queen • Salote mounted ti the boat-deck and 1 v.ith ‘mi- thre«? ladies-in-wait ing smiled. [ .mi affectionate fa rev. el l io her friend i below. Bouquets of flowers waved, j bravely coloureil streamers were j thrown, and the s.-ene look a note of colour and animation, i Suddenly a gr<n:j> of hoys from St | Stephen’s School began to sing a i haunting, melodious chant- of farewell, j -ung as only the soft-voiced native hoys Jean sing- Girls’ voices joined in. and ! rl.t* melody floated across the water in J t .'.onisite hauiionv. The chatter of I voices ceased ou (h.el; and wharf. The I crowd. silenced by the plaintive beautv i (.■' the farewell chant, war.cheo and li«jt; tied qnietlv. At last, when the rope* i veto cast off. tlie*c were cries of fan - i well, and the waving of handkerchi* fs J and much cheering. So tlie shin moved '« ui into th l * stream, the last bright -dreamer broke and tell, and flit* Queen ! passed on her way.