CARRIER BERTHS AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27667, 25 May 1955, Page 12

CARRIER BERTHS AT LYTTELTON

H.M.A.S. Sydney’s Visit OFFICERS BRING OWN CARS For a few minutes after the arrival of the aircraft-carrier, H.M.A.S. Sydney, at Lyttelton yesterday morning the ship had the appearance of a merchantman discharging a mixed cargo

of motor-vehicles, and on the other side of No. 2 wharf the inter-island steamer express Maori was busily engaged with a similar operation. Normally H.M.A.S. Sydney carries only four vehicles for use by the ship’s company ashore, but because the vessel is making a training cruise and not carrying its squadrons of aircraft space is available for members of the crew to bring their own vehicles for use at ports of call. Five officers have brought their cars, late model American, English, and Australian makes. The ship also carries a big English saloon foi use by the flag officer commanding the Australian Fleet (RearAdmiral H. M. Burrell), who is flying ms flag on board. Captain G. C. Oldham. D.b.c.) had a tricky time manoeuvring the Sydney in the inner harbour, and it took nearly an hour from the time the ship went through the moles until she was secure alongside. Captain Oldham would make no comment about the size of the harbour afterwards, but Rear-Admiral Burrell was forthright. “One thing I would like you to do that is, enlarge your harbour,” he said It is hazardous for a big ship to enter because there is so little clearance It was necessary to pivot three times to get m and with only one tug it would not have been good had there been

“In that case, it would have been little -too interesting for comfort." nd Captain Oldham. One of the first calls made after the

ship had been connected with the Christchurch automatic telephone exchange was by Captain Oldham, who called his wife. Mrs Oldham, who was formerly Miss Nancy Gibson, of Christchurch, is staying with her mother in Fendalton. An American decoration is awaiting Captain Oldham in Australia, and an investiture will be carried out soon after H.M.A.S. Sydney berths at Western Port, Victoria, on June 3. The decoration is the Legion of Merit ana the investitufe will be made by the United States Naval Attache (Captain R- A. McPherson). Cantain McPherson signalled the aircraft-carrier while the shin was on its way to Lyttelton accepting an invitation from RearAdmiral Burrell to fly by helicopter for luncheon after the ceremony. Travelling in H.M.A.S. Sydney as • guest is the senior services liaison representative of the Australian Government in the Dominion (Colonel S. G. Bleechmore).