NEW COMMODORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 10

NEW COMMODORE.

TO INSPECT R.N.V.R.

GROWTH OF AUCKLAND DIVISION

The first official visit of Commodore H. E. Horar, D.S.C., First Naval Member of the Naval Board and Chief of Naval Staff, Wellington, to the Auckland Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve will be paid to-morrow evening at 7.45 o'clock, when he will meet the officers on the active list and inspect the division. Following that the ratings will be regrouped and proceed with their normal classes #>f instruction. Included in the parade will be a party of 21 new recruits, who report the following day for medical inspection, thus taking part for the first time as naval ratings in an important ceremony.

The instructional equipment of the division is now very extensive, and full use will be made of all equipment tomorrow during classes. The gunnery erew»«»ill drill with 4in guns and Lewis guns and practise on the 25yds rifle range under the building which was constructed by the volunteers. The seamanship classes will exercise at knots and splices and receive instruction in the compass, rules of the road at sea and the electric helm, while the mining, depth charge and mine sweeping and communications branches will use their own particular apparatus.

Officers of the division have every reason to feel pleased with recruiting as not only is a fine type of New Zealander offering, but there is usually a waiting list of intending ratings. Training is not confined to the activities at the reserve headquarters. Men annually go to sea in H.M. cruisers and escort vessels or the minesweeper Wakakura, and those qualifying in wireless join H.M.S. Philomel for extensive training. Films showing fleet cruises, mine sweeping operations and fleet air work are given from time to* time with lectures by various naval officers and squadron specialists! Captain A. G. N. Wyatt. commanding officer of the Admiralty survey vessel Endeavour, will discuss survey work on July 13.