THE DEVERON.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19803, 16 December 1929, Page 16

THE DEVERON.

TRAINING CUTTER COMMISSIONED. CEREMONY AT FORT JERVOIS. A picturesque ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at Fort Jervois on Ripa Island, when the Koyal Naval Volunteer Reserve training cutter Deveron was officially commissioned. Representatives of Christchurch and Lyttelton public bodies with their wives were present, and there was a large complement of R.N.V.R. officers and men. After the Deveron came alongside at Ripa Island wharf, where were gathered the visiting party, a guard of honour was formed facing the vessel. The colours were slowly hoisted, and the Admiral's Salute was sounded. The dedication service was conducted by the naval chaplain, the Rev. T. M. Curnow, of Lyttelton. The smart drilling of the cadets won the admiration of the watchers, and the dignity of the proceedings was at once apparent and unconsciously stirring.

Officers present at the ceremony were: Brigadier M. M. Gard'ner, Officer Commanding the Southern Command, and Major R. A. Row, representing the military authorities, Commodore Geoffrey Blake, C.8., D.5.0., Officer Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Captain J. R. Middleton, 'D.S.O., Director of Naval Reserves in New Zealand, Commander A. D. Boyle, Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Kersley, Lieutenant H. A. Rhind, Lieutenant S. P. Dalton. Lieutenant C. W. Wilson, Lieutenant G. G. Andrews, Lieutenant F. A. Gunson, SurgeonLieutenant C. H. Gould, PaymasterLieutenant I. J. Wilson, Sub-Lieutenant R. D. Hall, Sub-Lieutenant F. G. Tidswell. and Chief Petty-Officer A. E. Urry. After afternoon tea had been supplied in the fort, and before the party embarked by launeh for the mainland, several short speeches were made. I Commander Boyle took the opportunity of thanking everyone concerned for what they had done for the vessel. Boys could have no effectively good training in a hall, and it had been I necessary to obtain some sea-going craft. In the Deveron the volunteers would be enabled to receive valuable instruction. On behalf of the men and officers of the R.N.V.R. he thanked those who had given donations and also the Lyttelton Harbour Board for its assistance. The commander made special reference to the work of Lieutenant Rhind in connexion with the Deveron, The vessel would be called "the Training Cutter Deveron." Commodore Blake expressed his pleasure at being present at the cerem6ny. He had come from Auckland especially for the commissioning. He stated that the Naval Board were only too anxious to help in this very valuable enterprise. Sea training was an essential for the cadets, and "one could not be a sailor without going to sea." The possession of the Deveron by the R.N.V.R. would give the men a great opportunity to pick up experience and seamanship. In the case of necessity small vessels would be largely used round the coast, and the training available on the cutter would be an asset to the men. The best training was that available on a sailing ship, said the Commodore, and he quoted as an example the Britannia, a craft very much like the Deveron. He congratui lated the success of the Division's efforts, those who had been connected with the enterprise, and Lieutenant Rhind on his labours. The vessel would be entitled to fly the White Ensign, and he hoped that all who sailed in her would realise the privilege extended to the ship. On behalf of the Naval Board he expressed thanks to those who had given generous aid and, in closing, hoped that all who sailed in the Deveron would have good luck, fair weather, and a fair wind. Brigadier M. M. Gard'ner spoke on behalf of the military authorities and added his congratulations to the Division. He remarked on the smartness with which the ceremony had been carried out and said that the appearance of the vessel certainly did strike a "land-lubber's" eye. He expressed his pleasure at seeing the island once more made use of.

The R.N.V.R. training cutter Deveron will be a tender to the Canterbury Division of the R.N.V.R., and will be under the direct order of the commanding officer of the Division. The training carried out on board will be recognised officially, and will consist of seamanship, boatwork, coastal navigation, signalling, etc., and will be of considerable practical value to all concerned. Permission has also been given to use a portion of Fort Jervois, which will be used as a base. Lieutenant H. A. Rhind, R.N.V.R., is to be appointed by the commanding officer of the Canterbury Division as executive officer of the R.N.V.R. training cutter Deveron. On the occasion of Deveron proceeding to sea, the senior officer who is on board will take command by authority of the commanding officer of the Canterbury-Division. The Deveron's History. The Deveron is a wooden cutter, 50ft long, 15ft 4in in beam, and depth 6ft lin, built in Auckland in 1881. She is solidly built of kauri planking and beams and heavy pohutukawa frames. She traded from Lyttelton to the Peninsula bays in the early days, then went to Bluff for some time, and eventually returned to Lyttelton about 30 years ago. She was engaged almost continually on the Lyttelton-Akaroa service, and was particularly well known on that trade for about 20 years. When Captain C. Andersen, who was in command, retired, the vessel continued running to Akaroa for some time under various masters, but when the sea trade became slack she was taken to Wellington by Captain C. Ipsen. On her return to Lyttelton about 12 months ago she was laid up, and eventually put up for auction, when she was purchased by the Canterbury Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. This purchase and the subsequent refit were only made possible by the generous help of several well-known Christchurch and Lyttelton citizens. The Deveron has been fitted with a 20 h.p. Frisco Standard engine. She is a trim little cutter and, since being taken over by the R.N.V.R., has been literally transformed in appearance. The officers' cabin has been fitted up and handsomely decorated in green and white. The vessel has been painted white, her masts and spars oiled and varnished, and her rigging renewed and set up.