VISIT OF H.M.Z.S. ROYALIST

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28795, 16 January 1959, Page 10

VISIT OF H.M.Z.S. ROYALIST

Civic Luncheon To Be Held

A civic luncheon is being arranged by the Christchurch City Council for the commanding officer (Captain C. C. Stevens) arid his officers when the'lTew Zealand cruiser Royalist is in Lyttelton next week.

The chairman of the council finance committee (Cr. H. P. Smith) said yesterday that it had been agreed to tender a civic luncheon to the warship’s officers and to provide financial assistance to the Navy League for the entertainment of ratings.

The amount of the assistance was £5O, he said.

“It has always been the practice In the past to assist the Navy League in providing entertainment,” said 1 Cr. Smith.

The Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) was yesterday making arrangements for the civic luncheon. Firm details have not been made but the luncheon will probably be _on the day the ship reaches Lyttelton—next Tuesday. Mr Feast said that more definite information would probably be available today. A council sub-committee has considered hospitality to be offered by the city to the visiting ship. Under the chairmanship <» Cr. Smith, the sub-committee comprises the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), Mr Feast, and Cr. w. P. Glue, who is also chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Among the 550 men of the Royalist’s company are many with Canterbury connexions. Captain Stevens himself began service in the navy as an ordinary seaman with the Canterbury division of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1933. The first commanding officer of H.M.N.Z.S. Royalist was captain (now Commodore) P. Phipps, who is a former Christchurch man. The warship’s present executive officer (Commander J. P. S. valiant) also comes from Chriit* church.