NAVAL CRUISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 8

NAVAL CRUISES.

ACTIVITY AT BASE.

ESCORT VESSELS RETURN,

With the exception of H.M.S. Leander. which is making' her first cruise of southern ports, all the naval vessels at present serving on the New Zealand station will be in Auckland by this evening. The flajrship Achilles this morning transferred from the Calliope Dock to her customary berth alongside the extension pier, after undergoing biennial relit. The Imperial escort vessels Wellington and Leith, and the minesweeper Wakakura all returned to the Devonport Xaval Base this morning from the Haiiraki Gulf where 25 officers and ratings from the Auckland Division of the Royal Xaval \ olunteer Reserve have been undergoing training since ]a*>t Saturday. A further detachment will embark on a similar cruise in the Wakakura to-morrow.

I lie Admiralty tanker Nucula, after being anchored in the stream since her return from California more than three months afro, and a few day* alongside Calliope wharf where part of her fuel oil cai go \\ a* discharged, is now anchored in the stream at Hol>son's Bay. The Admiialty survey vessel Endeavour was expected to make port this afternoon, where she will remain until next week. Next Tuesday the Wellington will sail for southern ].orts and she will be followed on November 29 by the Leith on a similar cruise. Before her departure, however, the Leith will undergo doekine and refit. 6

H.M.S. Achilles will leave Auckland on November 3 for Lyttelton. where she will be joined by the Leander. The two cruisers will be in eompanv at Akaroa, Wellington. Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf at later dates,- but their itineraries me not identical. The Leander left Auckland on October 4 and has already visited Napier. Dunedin and Bluff, from which port she was to sail to-dav for the West Coast Sounds. After a' stay at Xew Plymouth from October 30 to November 4 she will sail to Lyttelton. arri\ inw there on November 5. coincident with the arrival of the Achilles, which is sailing direct from Auckland.

The Leander will remain at Akaroa five days and the Achilles two. While there the Leander'will be inspected by Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Both the Achilles and Leander will carrv out full power trials during the cruise.