NAVAL ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 169, 13 April 1935, Page 6

NAVAL ACTIVITY

Diomede and Leith Depart DUNEDIN RECOMMISSIONS New Commodore Due Shortly After a stay of more than a month, during which their ratings went through musketry courses at Trentliam, lI.M. ships Diomede ami Leith departed from Wellington yesterday for Auckland, where they are due to-morrow. Th. Leith left during the forenoon and the Diomede at 1.30 p.m., In tho teeth of a strong southerly gale, against which both ships made heavy weather until they rounded Cape Palliser and li aded northward. An interested spectator of the departure of H.M.S. Diomede yesterday was Lieutenant-Commander K. S. Backhouse, who has just completed three year’s service as her nevigatlng officer. He has been relieved by Lieut. Commander J. Westmacott, who arrived from England in the Rangitata on Thursday. Lleut.-Commander Backhouse left for Auckland by train yesterday, and will return to England In the Rangitane in charge of a draft of naval ratings from H.M.S. Dunedin, a new draft for that ship having arrived b.- the Rangitata. Lieut.-Commander Westmacott previously saw service on tie New Zealand station as an officer in H.M.S. Laburnum. Other officers who will sail by the Rangitane from Auckland to-day are Commander P. 13. R. W. William-Pow-lett, Commander 11. F. Nichols, and Lieutenant T. G. B. Winch, all of the Dunedin. H.M.S. Dunedin will now recommission at Auckland after her recent extensive relit. The new commodore, Captain the Hon. E. R. Drummond, is a passenger in the Mataroa, which i.s due at Auckland from England on April 2-1, It is expected that all the ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy will be at Auckland when Captain Drummond takes over the command from Rear-Admiral F. Burges Watson. H.M.S. Diomede on arrival at Auckland to-morrow will give leave _ by watches to her New Zealand ratings. Early next month she will probably go out with the Dunedin into Hauraki Gulf for gunnery aud other exercises. About the middle of June both cruisers will make their annual cruises to the Pacific Islands. The new Imperial sloop H.M.S. Wellington, commanded by Commander J. B. E. Hall, is at present en route from England. She is to replace H.M.S. Laburnum, which left for Singapore in February. The new sloop is due at Wellington, the port after which she is named,, on May 13, and will arrive at Auckland on May 20.