N.Z. NAVAL SQUADRON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 309, 31 December 1930, Page 9

N.Z. NAVAL SQUADRON.

MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS.

H.MS. DUNEDIN DUE IN ENGLAND IN MAY.

AUTUMN CRUISE ARRANGEMENTS

The ships of the New Zealand Squadron will complete the Christmas leave period by January 20, and shortly afterwards disperse for the autumn

cruise. The flagship, H.M.S. Dunedin, will dock at Devonport from January 20 to £i, to prepare for her passage home to England. She will remain in harbour until February 3, when she and H.M.s. Inomede will probably leave in company for Russell to carry out drills and exercises preparatory to sailing for Hobart to meet the Australian Squadron. The. two cruisers are expected to spend about 14 days at Hobart, or in its vicinity, during which time strategical and tactical exercises, harbour drills, and pulling and sailing regattas will take place.

At the end of this period, early in March, the flag of Commodore. Geoffrey Blake, C.8., D.5.0., A.D.C. will be transferred to H.M.s. Diomede. A number of exchanges between personnel will be effected, and H.M.s. D'unedin will then sail for Sydney and England under the command of Captain M. J. C. de Meric, M.V.0., R.N. The Dunedin is due to arrive at Chatham early in May, and is then to pay off into dockyard control for an extended refit.

H.M.S. Diomede (Captain M. J. C. de Meric, M.V.0., R.N.) is due to proceed out into the Hauraki Gulf on January 20 for about one week, returning to Auckland in time for the Anniversary Regatta on January 29, on which date the whole squadron will be in port. For the Anniversary Regatta, the Diomede will be anchored in the stream. ■

The Dlomede's subsequent movements correspond to those of H.M.s. Dunedin up to the time of the latter's sailing for England from Hobart. Her later movements are not yet definitely decided, but she will probably return to New Zealand waters from Hobart, and her ship's company will carry out the annual musketry course at Wellington in April.