RENOWN SAILS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1927, Page 3

RENOWN SAILS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association j

A CHEERING MULTITUDE. LONDON, Jan. (3. Nearly half a million gathered on the shores at Portsmouth as the pale grcly "Renown” spotless gleaming; bearing the Duke and Duchess of York as ail ambassadorial mission of vital interest to Australia and New Zealand .moved off on the voyage. Though Portsmouth is aecHstomed to naval ceremony none in recent years has occasioned greater interest and none brought such a gigantic crowd from throughout England. AYhcn the Royal special reached the viaduct after London’s triumphant fareve I. a mighty roar wont up and the Yorks’ looking from the carriage w indow were obviously delighted, particularly the Duchess who was smiling continuously. AA'heu

they drew up alongside the Renown, gleaming like a silver ship. Iwo thousand relatives of the officers and crew

in privileged places cheered for tally live minutes. From the train the Royal couple stepped to the centre ot an impressive picture on the quarto!deck. The Royal Marine guard ot honour with hand, nil dazzling in full dress uniform, the decks, gun turrets and bridge were lined with sailor.-,, eagerlv awaiting the signal to elieoi. When it was given, a, prolonged mighty roar swept, round the cruiser. ami echoed and re-echoed from stem to stern. It was then taken up by civilians void everywhere could ho heard far and near a growing \olunio, until it was deafening. Standing at rigid attention oil the crimson coloured gangway were Captain Sullivan mid the officers ol the Renown in full dress. Two naval hands on the jetty struck up “The (»irl I Left Behind Mo.” while everywhere in the harbour men of war fully dressed constituted a magnificent pageantry of which only England is capable. Midst- this spectacle the Roy.'il couple held a brief conversation with distinguished military and naval officers. The Duke walked towards the gangway closely followed by the Duchess, Princes of Wales and other Royalties. The instant the Duke stepped on the deck. Ii is stmidard was hoisted, bugles rung out and the guard of honour presented arms and the Royal salute was given, while twenty-one guns thundered out from the assembled warshins. With hand to cap, the Duke stood in acknowledgement. At the close, he extended his hand to Commander Sullivan us did the Duchess, after which Sullivan presented the officers of the ship. Thereupon Sullivan conducted the Yorks to the Royal apartments accompanied by the Princes of AN ales, Princes George and Henry and there the final leave taking was observed. Precisely at 1.30 the Renown (lew a signal as is usual on such occasions. "May wo part company." the Coni-lnandor-in-Chief signalling ‘‘A es, whereupon the Renown gracefully moved off to renewed salutes and cheers from each warship as she passed The Yorks stood outside their apartment waving n farewell. . Ahead steamed the destroyers Vancouver and A'orti-i-cru and outside, the destrovois AA.uwick and Vcdox joined tht party until sundown when they signalled, “Goodbye, God speed.” and returned to tho base.

DUCHESS AND HER BABY. LONDON, January (!. The ceremony at Portsmouth was almost.cqifidled in London where human emotions had a sweeping triumph ovei the hare formality with which it was designed the departure from A'ictona should be invested. There "’its no guard of honour nor the pomp and pageantry usually associated with such an historic event, but the crowd was determined to give a background to siueli an impressive occasion, and giew so rapidly that the vast concourse spread from Buckingham • Palace to Victoria. Most of the Duchess’s intimate friends performed their leave-

aking at Brunton Street yeserday,

hut a. few who came fthis morning quickly realised how keenly the Duchess felt leaving her baby behind. The Duchess was every spare minute in and out of the nursery., fondling Princess Elizabeth, till the summons came at 10.35 that the ear was wait-

ing. The Duchess lingered for a last hug of the infant and then laid her down with a kiss and whispered : “God bless my baby.” Only one close, elderly friend witnessed the touching parting. Thereafter tho A'orks sped in a limousine to \ ictoria, the Duchess throwing a last kiss to the I tine ess in a nurse’s arms at the drawing-room window.

En route there were incessant bursts of shrill greetings from women and girls, while Mayfair society leaders stood on balconies and landings waving a farewell and among these were the Weigalls, the Yorks’ intimate friends, specially cordial. As the car entered the station there was a starling which alighted on the roof, overlookers acclaiming the incident as the happiest onion. The Duke wore a naval uniform and the Duchess a costume of dove grey, with hat to match and big posy of violets in her coat. Except for a few carpets and a few ferns and chrysanthemums, there was no attempt at decorations. Indeed, * the whole ceremony was purposely shorn of any touch of pageantry.

In the enclosure wore Mr Baldwin, the Lord Mayor and .Mayoress. Cooks, Casey, Parr. Beatty. Clarendon. Onnsbv, Gore, Bi'idgemati. Digville and they were soon joined hv the Strathmores, Duke and Duchess <>l tonnaught, Princesses Helena. Mane, and Louisa. Their Majesties drove up M 10.55 and the farewells were instantly begun, the Yorks passing round the semi-circle of triends hand-shaking. The Duchess presented a wistful girlish figure as friends held her hand each uttering a word of farewell. Once when her hand wns free it was seen to he holding a tiny handkerchief which found its way to her cheeks as if to chase away a vagrant speck ot dust and thou furtively brushed across her eyes. The company saw and understood. Then came a quiet and impressive parting with Their Majesties and Lord Strathmore. The Duke had a few minutes conversation with Sir 4 . Cook and Sir J. Parr and ttf.d each how eagerlv ho was looking forward to the visits and he also hoped Lady Parr would soon he convalescent.