NAVAL VISTORS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1935, Page 7

NAVAL VISTORS

NUMEROUS ENTERTAINMENTS

The destroyer Vendetta has left Weliington for New Plymouth, reducing the number of Australian men-of-war in port to four. The cruisers Canberra and Sussex, berthed at Aotea Quay, have been attracting a great deal of interest, especially the Sussex, which is visiting these waters for the first time. The Sussex is returning to Gibraltar for orders early next January, after serving on the Australian station for a year. She is very similar in construction and armament to the Canberra, which has visited Wellington on several occasions before. The Canberra has a slightly greater standard displacement, but is a little slower in speed. Both ships carry eight Bin guns, four 4in anti-aircraft guns, and eight 21in torpedo tubes as their principal armaments.

The destroyers Stuart and Voyager will leave here on Thursday for Syd-/ uey direct. The Canberra leaves Wellington on Friday for Lyttelton, and the Sussex on Sunday ■ for Dunedin. The two cruisers will then proceed to Hobart, Tasmania, which will be reached on April 9. After engaging in combined exercises with the military forces, the. two ships will leave for Sydney, arriving there on April 18.

The visitors are being well entertained, and are enjoying their stay, although, their usual training routine is not being interrupted.

This afternoon officers of the fleet are attending a reception given at Kifkcaldie and Stains by the Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr. R. H. Nesbitt, and tonight a dance will be given by the fleet on board the Canberra.

Officers will attend a reception at the United Services Club to-morrow afternoon, and in the evening the. commanding officers and their personal staffs will be the guests of his Excellency the Administrator, Sir Michael Myers, at a dinner at the Wellington Club.

The Wellington Seamen's Institute has arranged a comprehensive pro-* gramme of sports engagements and outings for. the ratings from the warships., This afternoon cricket matches are being played between the Canberra and Grey Cabs, and between the Sussex and a team of Wellington Cricket Association players. At 2.30 pjn; 75 ratings from the Sussex commenced a motor tour. At 6 o'clock there will be tea at the, institute, followed at 8 o'clock by a whist drive and social.

Tomorrow afternoon a' cricket match Destroyers v. Police, is to be played and a tennis match will also take place between the Canberra and the Kelburn Club. There will be a motor tour for 75 men from the Canberra, tea at the institute at 6 p.m. and a dance at 8 o'clock.

On Thursday the Canberra will play a cricket match against the Midland Club and there will again be tennis matches at Kelburn. A concert will be given at the institute in the evening. ' An Association football match yesterday between the bands of the Canberra and Sussex at Lyall Bay resulted in a draw, 4 all. Members of the Wellington Rotary Club played a tennis match on the Kelburn courts against officers from' the Sussex who were defeated after , some interesting games. The Sussex was represented by Lieutenants Stirling, Theobalt, Duncan, Airey, Napier and Jewitt, and the club by Rotarians A. W. Hawley, Norman Gibbons, F. F. Ferguson and W. P. Walker. , , ,