DEPARTURE OF ACHILLES

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 22

DEPARTURE OF ACHILLES

RECEPTION TO OFFICERS AND MEN [Fir Umm Pi!ess Association.] AUCKLAND, November 30. The city’s friendliness toward Commodore Glennie, commanding the seagoing squadron of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and his officers and ratings of H.M.S. Achilles, was expressed in a happy fashion at the civic farewell held in the Town Hall to-day. The gathering was a prelude to the cruiser’s departure on Friday for England, where she' is to be recommissioned before returning to New Zealand.

After disembarking from naval_ pinnaces and launches at the Admiralty steps, a detachment of about 100 officers and ratings from the cruiser, preceded by the Royal Marines Band, inarched up Queen street to the Town Hall The. parade was immaculately presented, and attracted the interested attention of a large body of citizens. At the Town Hall there was a gathering of riiore than 2,000, including many school children. .

The mayor, (Sir Ernest Davis) said he thought it was a matter for gratification that a large proportion of .the ratings were New Zealand boys. This was as it should be.

The thankfulness of the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) and the Government for the manner in which the Achilles had upheld the traditions of the service was expressed by the Hon. F. E. Lark, M.L.C., who also thanked the mayor for democratically inaugurating a reception to the lower deck as well as to the officers.

Mr Savage’s greetings to the officers and men and his wishes for a happy voyage wero also expressed in a letter from him apologising for not being able to be present. Similar letters were received from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry), Archbishop Averill. and Bishop Liston. Sir Ernest presented Commodore Glennie with a framed picture of Auckland Harbour. In his reply Commodore Glennie said he wished to thank the mayor and citizens of Auckland for their extraordinarily kind reception at all times to the officers and men of his ship. He also wished to express his gratitude to the people of New Zealand as a whole. They had shown the ship great kindness and had done everything. possible to make the stay of the officers and men in New Zealand a memorable one.