HOMEWARD BOUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1939, Page 6

HOMEWARD BOUND

THEIR MAJESTIES SAIL FROM HALIFAX ABOARD THE EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. BROADCAST FROM, BALL ROOM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.) HALIFAX. June 15. Their Majesties' broadcast followed a luncheon in the ball room of a Nova Scotian hotel. After honouring the Royal toast, the Premier (Mr A. L. MacDonald) announced that their Majesties would speak. As the King rose, the guests stood and cheered, but at the King’s request they sat down as he began to broadcast. He spoke with calm assurance, in a resonant voice. His eyes swept the 250 persons in the ball room. As he was speaking the guests listened with rapt attention and they burst into cheering when the broadcast was completed. As throughout the tour his Majesty's enunciation, both in English and French was clear and distinct—-entirely free from the hesitation which once troubled him. The King conferred the following honours: — Insignia of the Royal Victorian Order: Lord TwOedsmuir; Knight of the Grand Cross: Mr A. S. Redfern, of the Vice-Regal Household Commander. Their Majesties sailed for England aboard the Empress of Britain at G. 32 p.m. STRAINS OF SONG “AULD LANG SYNE” SUNG BY CANADIANS. AS ROYAL LINER LEAVES HALIFAX. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) HALIFAX, June 15. The Empress of Britain sailed at G. 32 D.m. Eastern standard time. A final stop by their Majesties amounting to only a few hours, is sche ■ duled for Saturday at Saint John’s, Newfoundland. A cheering throng estimated by the' police at 150,000 roared out a last farewell as their Majesties left Canada after a month on the North American mainland. A crowd, twice as numerous as the population of Halifax had cheered their Majesties throughout their seven hour stay in the Nova Scotian capital. Their Majesties boarded the liner at 5.27 p.m. after luncheon at Government House.

In response to repeated calls of: “We want the King and Queen,” they appeared at the rail shortly before the Empress of Britain pulled out. Crowds along the sea wall began singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Almost at that moment smoke began to stream from the centre funnel and the strains of the song were, one of the last things their Majesties heard as they sailed.