ROMANCE OF THE SHETLANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1930, Page 2

ROMANCE OF THE SHETLANDS

The call recently of the P. and O. liner Viceroy of India at. Lenvick. the Shetland;-, was made the occasion of a charming celebration by the '>■- habitants of that town. This took the form of a small water pageant. As the. Viceroy of India came to her anchorage she was approached by a Viking ship, an authentic reproduction, manned by fair-haired Norsemen in full Viking kit) including axes, shielus, coats of mail and winged helmets. As .the little ship, by comparison a mere cockle shell, made fast alongside the 20,000-ton liner she was joined by another craft bringing a bevy of Shetland girls dressed in the old and handsome costume of the islands, who cairied keshies (straw baskets) of peat - n their backs and were seen to be industriously plying their knitting needles. The Norsemen and their lassies mounted the accommodation ladder and were ceremoniously welcomed on the vessel’s deck by Captain Ofilson, the commander, after which they paraded the decks, very much to the interest of the passengers. The girls, having shed their peat baskets, proceeded to demonstrate the manufacture (and sale) of Shetland hosiery, amidst a volley of questions from the onlookers.. Ihe visitants were introduced bv Mr Robertson (th-» shipping agent, himself a native of. Lerwick) in appropriate phrases: “Onmnnnder Ohlson and all yon good peopla of the Viceroy of I’-dm I Shot I We welcome you to the north land, \V<> welcome you to Ultima Thule.” The speaker cluimed that his companions, although British subjects, were yet proud of their Norse descent, in proot of which they had. commissioned and maimed the war galley. He commented upon Lerwick as the birthplace : 1 Arthur Anderson, a founder, nearly a hundred years ago, of the P. and O. Company, remarking that ashore were the remains of the “house o' Cruister,” where Anderson served his first master in a humble capacity. Across that harbour where tiie great P. and 0. liner now lay Anderson had laboriously pulled his master’s boat when the latter had had occasion to visit ’Lerwick. A penniless boy, he ultimately became chairman of the P. anti 0. Line and member of Parliament for j Orkney and Shetland. Anderson, the ; speaker said, for all his romantic and successful career, did not forget his cradle, for there could be se6n to-day, from the Viceroy’s deck, buildings and endowed institutions which lie conferred on the town to its lasting benefit.