THE NAVAL VISITOR

Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 8

THE NAVAL VISITOR

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA PROGRAMME ARRANGED A full programme has been arranged for the entertainment of the officers and men of H.M.A.S. Australia, which arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon. A dance was arranged for the ship’s company last night by the Otago branch of the Navy League, and a small-bore rifle match was fired against the Port Chalmers Volunteer Rifle Club. This evening there will be an “ At home ” on board the ship. The public will be allowed on board between 2 and 4.30 p.m. to-morrow, and a Rugby football match will be played against an Otago team. The ship’s second fifteen will also play a match against a Port Chalmers team. Two association football matches have been arranged, the first eleven playing the Dunedin Tramways team and the second eleven playing the Port Chalmers side. Arrangements have also been made for hockey matches between the ship’s teams and < Otago. During the afternoon an official visit will be paid by the Terra Nova Sea Scouts. The ship will again be open to the public from 2 till 4.30 p.m. on Sunday. Officers have been invited to attend the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Navy League on Monday, and on that day there will probably be a rifle match between the ship’s teams and the Returned Soldiers’ Small-bore Rifle Club. The Australia will sail Tuesday, in company with the Stuart (which will arrive to-morrow), to rendezvous with the remainder of the squadron off East Cape. The whole squadron will then visit Auckland before returning to Jervis Bay, Australia. OFFICIAL VISITS. Shortly after the vessel berthed yesterday afternoon official visits were paid by the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board (Mr J. B. Waters), accompanied by Messrs J. H. Duncan, R. Duncan, R. Harrison, the harbour master (Captain J. Mac Lean). and the secretary (Mr J.. Renton), and the Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr T. Scollay), the deputy-mayor (Mr D. Forsyth), Cr H. J. Watson, and the town clerk (M- C. Blackman), boarded the vessel immediately, and later in the afternoon th> Mayor of Dunedin (the Rev. E. T. Cos), accompanied by members of the Civic Committee and the town clerk (Mr R. A. Johnston), paid an official call. Representatives of the Otago Division, R.N.V.R.. and of the military units _ in the city also waited on the captain. The calls were returned by Captain Acland and his staff this morning. THE OFFICERS, The Australia is commanded by Captain H. G. D. Acland, D. 5.0., R.N., and his principal officers are:—Commander A. H. Spurgeon, Commander (E) O. F. M'Manon, Instr.-commander J. C. Slater, Surgeon-commander J. M. Flattery, Lieutenant-commander V. E. Kennedy, Lieutenant-commander H. J. Buchanan, Lieutenant-commander D. H. Harries. Lieutenant-commander ,N. R. Read, Lieutenant-commander B. Bryant, Lieutenant-commander (E) E. A. Good, Paymaster-lieutenant-com-mander E. H. Currey. The Australia carries a complement of 700. STUART TO-MORROW. The flotilla leader Stuart, which is to arrive at Dunedin to-morrow, is a vessel of 1,500 tons. Her'armament consists of five 4.7 in guns and six 21in torpedo tubes, and she has a top speed of 34 knots. She is at present commanded by Captain C. H. J. Harcourt. The Stuart was to have been accompanied to Dunedin by the destroyer Vendetta, but the latter has had' to be diverted to Gisborne to replace tlie Waterhen, which has proceeded to Auckland for repairs to her engines.