STRATHALLAN’S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 8

STRATHALLAN’S VISIT

Departure Arouses Keen Interest BIG CROWD ON WHARF Not for many years has there been so much interest shown by the public in the departure of a ship from Wellington as there was last evening when the I’, and O. cruise liner Strathallan left Queen’s Wharf for Sydney. The liner was to have sailed at 6.30 p.m., and from 6 o’clock till 8.25 o’clock, 20 minutes after she sailed, the two telephones in the tolls office of the harbour board rang continuously with requests for the sailing time. There were comparatively few persons in Wellington, apparently, who were not Interested in the sailing of the 23,000ton liner'.

“I have not washed the dishes yet, as I am waiting to see her go out,” said a woman who’had postponed clearing away after the evening meal till the ship sailed. From all suburbs which had views of the harbour, telephone calls came from persons who wished to see the big white ship steaming down the harbour. On the wharf there was a large crowd to wish the passengers “bon voyage.” Most of them waited till the ship was fast disappearing round Point Halswell. Many motorists travelled to Point Halswell, Worser Bay, Seatoun, and Lyall Bay to catch, a final glimpse of the Strathallan, which is the last cruise ship to visit New Zealand this summer.