WARSHIPS AT DUNEDIN

Evening Star, Issue 19221, 12 April 1926, Page 6

WARSHIPS AT DUNEDIN

GREETINGS EXCHANGED About half an hour after the H.M.3. Dunedin (flagship of the New Zealand Naval Division) and her sister, H.M.S. Diomede, wore berthed on Saturday tho mayor (Mr 11. L. Tapley, M.P.) and members of the Civic Deception Committee, Sir J. Loudon (chairman of tho Harbor Board), Mr J. Sutherland Boss (chairman of directors of the Now Zealand and South Seas Exhibition), Captain T. M. Satterthwailc and Captain E. L. Hunt (representing th« Defence Department), Colonel Engem O'Neill, C.M.G., D.S.O. (representing the Otago Officers’ Club), Mr P. Anderson (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association), and Mr J. M. White (secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association) boarded the Dunedin to welcome Commodore Beal, and his officers.

Mr Tapley expressed the hope that tho_ men of both ships would enjoy their visit, and cordially welcomed the visitors on behalf of Dunedin’s citizens.

The party then went aboard the Diomede. The Mayor addressed himself briefly to Captain J. S. M. Ritchie, remarking that the people of the city were proud to know that Captain Ritchie was an old Dunedin boy. He dwelt upon Dunedin’s world-wide reputation for hospitality, particularly towards men serving in His Majesty’s Navy, and assured the ship’s company of a good time. The Chairman of the Harbor Board also spoke in welcome. Captain Ritchie said ho was delighted to return to his home town after a long absence. The considerate naval authorities at Home had given him command of a very fine ship, and his company and himself had been warmly welcomed at each port, so far, of tho dominion. They were all determined to work bard and make the name of tho ship. The general exercises which had been carried out recently by Australian and New Zealand units in the Hanraki Gulf bad resulted in the Diomede having the top score by 50 points, and the performance was very pleasing. His officers and moil were splendid.