PORT REOPENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1938, Page 9

PORT REOPENED

CELEBRATION AT MONTREAL. AFTER WINTER FREEZE. MONTREAL, Canada. Shipping was officially opened this season at the port of Montreal, Canada's great metropolis and the world’s largest inland port, by the Canadian Pacific liner Duchess of Bedford which docked in the port on April 18. Captained by Archibald R. Meikle. R.D., R.N.R.. the vessel arrived in port to be welcomed by hundreds of spectators. The harbour of Montreal is closed during the winter months when the St. Lawrence seaway is frozen and the opening of this route to traffic is the occasion of much excitement in Montreal. This port is approximately 1,000 miles from the Atlantic coast and its opening greatly facilitates traffic overseas and also further inland via the chain of the Great Lakes to the centre. of the Dominion.

Captain Meikle was awarded a goldheaded cane, the annual tribute, presented to the master who brings the first ocean-going ship into Montreal at the opening of each season. Members of the city council, the harbour board and other officials took part in the ceremony. This is the second consecutive win for the Canadian Pacific Steamships. Last year it wr/-. Captain Charles Richardson who brought the Duchess of York into the hdrbour first.

Among the passengers on the return voyage of the Duchess of Bedford to England was Her Excellency, Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of the GovernorGeneral of Canada. With ocean navigation once more under way, officials of the harbour of Montreal are looking forward to a busy season and to expansion in all branches of harbour activity.