NAVAL VISIT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 160, 3 April 1937, Page 8

NAVAL VISIT

Arrival To-day of Visiting Australian Ships CRUISE PROGRAMME Not. since the visit of the Special Service Squadron about 15 years ago lias there been such a concentration of British naval power in New Zealand waters as that which will arrive in Wellington at about 7.45 o'clock this morning, comprising most of the active service ships of the Royal Australian Navy, and the four available ships on tlie New Zealand station. At noon tlie usual courtesy calls will be made upon tlie Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones).

Tlie Australian squadron consists of H.M.A.S. Canberra, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R. 11. O. Lane-Poole, the cruisers Australia and Sydney, the destroyer flotilla-leader Stuart, and the destroyers Vendetta and Waterhen. The escort sloop Swan will not arrive from New Plymouth • until April 6. HALS. Achilles, flagship of Rear-Ad-miral E. R. Drummond, the escort sloops Leith and Wellington, and the mine-sweeper Wakakura are the New Zealand vessels which, with the exception of the latter, will return with the Australian squadron from exercises in the eastern Tasman Sea.

A full programme of entertainment for the visiting officers and men has been drawn up, including a dance in honour of Rear-Admiral Lane-Poole and liis officers to-night, and a dance for four or five hundred petty officers and men on Monday night. Tliis afternoon several Rugby football matches will lie played, and tlie fixtures, which begin at 3 o’clock, are as follows: —Australian Squadron XV v. Wellington College Did Boys’ Club, on Wellington College ground; Australian Squadron team v. St. Patrick’s College Old Boys, at Lyall Bay; H.M.S. Achilles NV v. Victoria University College team, at Lyall Bay; H.M.S. Achilles v. Victoria University College (second fifteen), at Lyall Bay. Next Monday a golf match between teams of officers of the squadrons will be played on the Wellington Golf Club’s links at Heretaunga.

On Tuesday morning approximately 1000 ranks and ratings from the Australian and New Zealand ships will march through the city, and a Ministerial luncheon will be given the officers at. Parliament Buildings. The R.N.V.R. will not take part in the ceremonies to-day, but officers and men will make an official visit to all visiting ships during the week-end. They will also take part in the march through the city.

On April 7 H.M.S. Achilles, with the Wellington and Leith, will leave Wellington for the Hauraki Gulf to carry out a week’s exercises. The Australian ships will depart from Wellington on the same day for a tour of New Zealand ports, and subsequently will join up again with the New Zealand ships, the two squadrons arriving at Auckland on April 16. The following coastal itinerary has been arranged for the Australian ships: Canberra and Sydney, at Lyttelton, April 8 to 13; Australia at Port Chalmers, April S to 13; Stuart and Vendetta at Pieton, April 7 to 9. and at Dunedin April 10 to .13; Swan at Napier, April 8 to 12, and at Gisborne. April 12 to 15; Waterhen at Nelson. April 7 to 9, and at Tiniaru, April 10 to 43. The whole Australian squadron will be at Auckland from April 16 to 21. Berthing arrangements have been made ns follows while the vessels are in Wellington: Fryutt Quay. Canberra and Australia; Aotea Quay, Achilles, Leith, and Wellington: Clyde Quay, Sydney, Swan, and Waterhen: Queen’s Wharf No. 2. Stuart and Vendetta; Queen’s Wharf No. 5, Wakakura.