Big welcome for frigate

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 12

Big welcome for frigate

(From JOHN N. HUTCHISON)

SAN FRANCISCO

P..M.N.Z.S. Canterbury IwiJj greet San Francisco I wit! a bank today whea she sails through the Golden Gate — the first New Zealand naval vessel to visit the city since the Royalist came in 19(2.

Socid and sports events will kelp the ship’s complement 01,240 men and officers busy frbm the moment the Canterbury fires a 21-gun salute is she passes the Presidio of San Francisco, military headquarters for Noftherr California since the Spaniards established it 200 years aga.

United States Navy and Coast Guard .officers will by that time have already landed by helicopter aboard the ship in the waters beyond the Golden Gate Bridge to organise immigration and customs formalities and bring the. first San Francisco greetings to the Canterbury's commander, Captain lan Tyler. He wili play host that

evening to state and city| officials, military leaders, and I civic dignitaries invited to al reception on board. The! honours will be returned by] the U.S.S. Wichita, the ‘ American Naval vessel that is the official host ship for] the Canterbury. The Canterbury has been I operating off the American i West Coast for some weeks, part of the time attached to the United States Navy. Her most recent port of call, | however, is Canadian — I

Vancouver British Columbiaj She will invite schoolchildren and youth groups aboard during two days, with' special attention given to! youngsters who have little | opportunity for organised ad-1 venture. The general public I twill be invited aboard during' the week-end. Two rugby teams from the ship will play I San Francisco sides, one of: which is coached by Mri Peter Culley, a member of ai San Francisco structural! engineering firm, who is from Wellington. Mr Max Hope, New Zea- j land’s consul-general in San; Francisco said that the Can-! terbury’s visit was generat-; ing unusual interest as one of the special public everts in! the year-long observance of the Bicentennial of both the United States and the city of I San Francisco. The Canterbury will sail! on April 19 for Hawaii .before returning home. Rugby league.—Murray Eade has announced his retirement from all rugby league after playing for Ellerslie in the second half of the match against Ota-' huhu recently. A first choice as| loose forward in the Kiwis since ( ,he made his debut in 1971 the: Ellerslie player has toured Bri ■tain and France three times and I I Australia twice. j