NEW COMMISSION FOR CORVETTE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14570, 14 January 1948, Page 3

NEW COMMISSION FOR CORVETTE

REFITTING WORK AT DEVONPORT

SEA-GOING TRIALS AT END OF MONTH

The corvette Arabis is to be recommissioned in the Royal -New Zealand Navy on January 27. The ship, which has been in reserve since the last German minefields were cleared from the Hauraki Gulf 18 months ago, is being refitted at the Devonport naval dockyard and, after seagoing trials, she will rejoin her sister-ship Arbutus in an active role on the station.

The Arabis will be commanded by Commander L. P. Bourke, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.Z.N., who has been in charge of H.M.N.Z.S. Tamaki, the new entry training establishment on Motuihi Island. Other officers of the ship have yet to be appointed. One of the first duties of the newly-recommissioned ship will be to visit Waitangi in company with the Arbutus and a harbour defence motor-launch for the Navy’s commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6. For the ceremonial hoisting of the Union Jack on the 110 ft flagstaff which the Navy erected in November, 1946, a guard will be paraded by H.M.N.Z.S. Tamaki and a band by the Royal Marines of H.M.N.Z.S. Bellona. A salute is to be taken by Commodore G. W. G. Simpson, C.8.E., R.N., Chief of the New Zealand Naval Staff.

Returning from Waitangi, the two corvettes wfill visit Kawau and one will act as flagship for the Royal Yacht Squadron’s regatta on February 7. They will also accommodate crews of naval whalers and cutters which are to race from the Rangitoto Beacon to Kawau.