SPORTS ID RECEPTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 16

SPORTS ID RECEPTIONS

NAVY'S BUSY DAY A busy day was experienced by the ship’s company of H.M.A.S. Australia to-day. Naval teams met local teams at Rugby football, Association football, and hockey. In addition, members of the public were permitted to visit the ship. An augmented railway service carried a large number of visitors from the city, while many others travelled down by road. The railway service will again be extended to-morow. afternoon, when the ship will be thrown open to the public. Late trains are also being run each night for the convenience of the ship’s company. m _ Members of the Terra Nova Sea Scouts (Port Chalmers) visited the ship this morning, and were shown the various items of interest. STUART'S ARRIVAL * BERTHED AT DUNEDIN The flotilla leader, H.M.A.S. Stuart, arrived in the harbour to-day, and shortly after noon was berthed at the Rattray street wharf, where she will remain until sailing, in company with the cruiser Australia, on Tuesday. This is the first occasion on which a vessel of this type has visited Dunedin, and those members of the public who take an interest in naval matters will be able to examine the outstanding features of the vessel while she is in port. The main armament consists of five 4.7 in guns, one Sin high angle gun, two pompoms, a number of depth charges, and six 21in torpedo tubes, and she has a top speed of 34 knots from 40,000 horse-power engines. About a-quarter to 12 the grey hull of the Stuart was seen in the Victoria channel as she rounded the bend of Ravensbourne. She approached _ the wharf at slow speed and quietly glided to her berth at the Rattray street wharf. As she came alongside, the bo’sun’s pipe and the crew, fallen in at their stations, broke off and carried out the preparations. Heaving lines flew through the air and the hawsers were pulled ashore. As the Stuart’s bow touched the wharf a party swarmed ashore to assist with the mooring operations and the vessel was soon tied up. Captain C. Harconrt, R.N., is in command and his officers are:— Lieuten-ant-commander J. Walsh, R.A.N., navigator Lieutenant G. Gatacre, R.A.N., Lieutenant (G.) Becher, R.A.N., Lieutenant (T.) Maclure, R.N., Lieutenant Macliver, R.A.N., Suh-lieu-tenant Tapp, R.A.N., Commander (E.) D. Clarke. R.A.N., Lieutenant (E.) N. M'Guire. R.A.N., Gunner (T.) Blatchi'ord, R.A.N., Warrant-telegraphist Boxall, R.A.N. Captain Harcourt paid several official calls this afternoon, and others will be paid on Monday. The Captain will also visit Oamaru on Monday where a civic reception will be extended to him, and he will address the Oamaru branch of the Navy League. The ship was thrown open for inspection by the public this afternoon and will be open again to-morrow afternoon.

On Monday evening members of the ship’s crew will give a concert in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, the proceeds from which will be devoted to the relief of distress. The Stuart is scheduled to sail at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. She will rendezvous with the Australia at Port Chalmers and the Vendetta at Timaru before proceeding to Auckland.