DOMINION MONARCH’S ARRIVAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 10

DOMINION MONARCH’S ARRIVAL

World’s Biggest Motor-ship At Wellington SUCCESSFUL MAIDEN VOYAGE

Thousands Witness Picturesque Harbour Pageantry Through morning mists. the new 27.000-ton Shaw. Savill and Albion liner IN-miniw Monarch entered Port Nicholson shortly after daybreak on Saturday. She berthed at Pipitca Whatt, Wellington, at 8 a.in., thus ending her maiden voyage out from England, via South Africa and Australia. Her arrival was watched by many thousands ot people on the land. Tlie biggest motor-ship afloat and the most powerful, the Dominion Monarch was the second largest merchant linei evei to call at Wellington, and the biggest to make this port a regular port of call. Pioneering a new service, she brought some 370 passengers. of whom about 200 were making the round trip on board. On her wav out, she set new records for three stages of her joinney.. She was commanded bv Captain W. H. Hartman, formerly marine superintendent at Wellington of the Shaw. Savill and Albion Company.

The Dominion Monarch’s arrival was watched by crowds gathered not only at Aolea Quay, Fryali Quay, and iu the neighbourhood of I’ipiica Wharf, but also on Points Halswell ami Jerniughnm, on Mount. Victoria., ami at. vantage points of the hills all round the harbour. Cars streamed round Oriental Bay toward the jioli.it for about half an hour before the vessel waq <1';O iu port. Harbour I'ngeantry. Numbers of ym-'ti's and launches put en' moot, the iiiconiitig ship, making :i p’misant scene of harbour pageantry. White she was still well out toward the heads, a single aeroplane swooped and zoomed over her and shortly afterward ihe aerial subtle was repealed by three others. Hying in formation low above the masthead. The huge ship, splendidly proportioned, moved stately up the harbour in the first rays of the morning sun. The water was dead calm. Iler black hull with white longitudinal line and tophamiier, buff funnels topped with black, and single taper mast, was setoff by contrast with a liny scarletsailed yacht that, idled between it and the watellers on the land.

Soon after the Dominion Monarch entered harbour, the pilot boarded her. Later, off Evans Bay, the tender Janie Seiiilon came alongside and set on board ihe doctor. Customs and port officials, and shipping company representatives. Most of the 3'o passengers, the greater number of them strangers to Wellington, were on deck watching the liner’s progress* up the sunlit harbour. Wii bout difficulty, aided by the tug Tula ami with the Terawliiti standing by. she berthed at. lipilea Wharf al st. as 8 o'clock was striking. Averaged (Iyer 19 Knots. She had come 14,500 miles in 35 days without being unduly hurried, yet crossing the Indian Ocean faster titan any ship bad done before, and averaging over 19 knots almost all the way. In command of the Dominion Monarch, Captain Hartman has with him as officers Hie following: Staff captain, Captain D. Aitchison; chief officer, Mr. A. C. Jones; second. Mr. L. R. Bull; third. Mr. C. A. Holleyoak: chief engineer, Mr. A. T. Gibson; staff chief engineer, Mr. J. W. Brew; second engineer. Mr. R. H. Reid: third, Mr. O. L. Jones; surgeon, Dr. F. J. M. Kennedy; assistant surgeon, Dr. R. G. Samuel; purser, Mr. E. Cordery assistant purser. Mr. .S. Nicholson; chief steward, Mr. A. E. Demeza. Her passengers included many rich and distinguished visitors. Weekend Visitors. During I'he weekend some thousands of people visited the waterfront in order to see the vessel, even though they were not allowed on board. A special luncheon will beheld on board today by the Shaw Savill Company, in Honour of the conclusion of the vessel's maiden passage.

The Dominion Monarch will remain in port ;i week, afterward proceeding to Auckland ami Napier to complete discharge of her cargo and load Homeward. She .will return to Wellington in mid-April. and is scheduled to sail mi April 26 for Southampton and London, via Australia and South Africa.

(Pictures on page 7.) STOWAWAY IN COURT During Hie passage oftlie Dominion Monarch between Sydney and Wellington, Hie master reported by radio that a stowaway had been discovered, and on Saturday. Edward Michael Carroll, musician and seaman, aged 37, admitted the offence before .Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., in r;he Magistrates’ Court, Wellington.

On behalf of the owners of the vessel, Mr. M. C. Barnett asked the magistrate to impose a deterrent penalty. .Shipowners regarded slowing away as serious, because ships were often delayed seriously by having to call at a port lo disembark :r stowaway after a voyage had begun. If was awkward if a man who happened to be a prohibited immigrant were carried to a country. It was no deterrent for a man to be sent back and charged his fare, but if Hie full penally were initiated the company would guarantee to take him out of the country when Ins lime had been served. Sub-Insp.ctor J. Dempsey said that Carroll claimed to have been in New Zealand before and the police could not say that lie wtrs a prohibited immigrant.

Commenting that lie had no power to order Hie deportation of a man who was not a prohibited immigrant, tiie magistrate anded Carroll til] next Friday, so Hun inquiries could be made.

RECEPTION POSTPONED

'Pile Shaw, Savill and Albion Company has found ii necessary to cancel Ihe Dominion Monarch reception, which was to have been hold on .March 29. A reception will be held during the second visit, of the vessel in September. Present invitations will stan'd, and holders will be given notice of the event.