ISLAND CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 5

ISLAND CRUISE.

VICEREGAL VISIT.

H.M.S. DIOMEDE'S ITINERARY.

DEPARTURE NEXT WEEK,

Preparations are well in hand for the approaching Vice-Regal official visit to the Pacific Islands.

Having completed a short cruise of the New Zealand coast, H.M.s. Diomede, flagship of Commodore F. Burges Watson, .went into dock at Auckland yesterday for cleaning, and berthed this afternoon at the Slicerlegs wharf. On Monday afternoon the vessel will move over to the Prince's wharf, and the Vice-Regal party will embark on Tuesday. The Diomede is scheduled to leave for Nukualofa at 3 p.m. on Tuesday to commence her voyage of 4100 miles, which will end with her return to Auckland on May 5.

The Diomede will arrive at Nukualofa on April 15 and remain there for two days before sailing for Vavau, where she is due on April IS. An official ViceRegal visit will be paid to Queen Salote, of Tonga. Leaving Vavau on April 19, the Diomede will stay at Apia from April 19 to April 24, while his Excellency pays his first official visit to the mandated territory of Western Samoa. On April 24 Pago Pago, in American Samoa, will be visited, and the Diomede will then leave for Rarotonga, staying there from April 27 to April 29. May 5 is the arrival date in Auckland.

His Excellency, who will arrive in Auckland on Monday, will be accompanied on the tour by the Lady Bledisloe, Miss Diana Harris and Captain J. W. Tweedie, A.D.C. Lieut. K. M. Walter will act as temporary naval aide-de-camp during the trip. The suite of cabins on the quarter-deck of the Diomede will be placed at the disposal of the vice-regal party. The commodore's cabin will be taken by her Excellency, and his Excellency will occupy the commander's cabin. Commodore Burgos Watson and Captain V. A. C. Crutcliley will transfer to cabins abaft the bridge.

Following her Island cruise, the Diomede will undergo refit at Auckland during the winter. H.M.s. Dunedin, which will return from her Southern trip on May 0, will remain in Auckland until the middle of June, when she will start her usual cruise of tlio Pacific ■Islands, lasting for about two months.

With the withdrawal of the Diomede for refit the Dunedin will become the flagship, and Commodore Burges Watson will transfer to her. Captain M. J. C. de Meric, who commands the Dunedin, will leave for England by the Rangitata on May 12. The Diomede during her refit will be commanded by Captain Crnteliley. Paymaster-Lieutenant J. M. Hogan, Lieutenant Walter and Pay-master-Sub-Lieutenant P. Wekes will transfer from the Diomede to the Dunedin with the Commodore, while Lieut.Commander R. Airey, Lieutenant R. J. H. Ryan and Lieutenant C. W. Jones will remain on board the Diomede until she is recommissioned in August. Lieutenant K. S. Backhouse and Lieutenant N. R. Quill will also join the Diomede her refit.