SEA CADETS

Evening Star, Issue 24347, 9 November 1942, Page 4

SEA CADETS

TRAINING SHIP COMMISSIONED Reprieved some 18 months ago from on ignominious slow disintegration in the waters of the Lower Harbour, the former ferry steamer Waireka entered a fied, and valuable stage of service on Saturday afternoon, when she was formally commisisoned by Commander F. G. McDonald, R.N.R.. as the training ship for the Otago Division of the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps. With the sun shining on her light grey paint and with streamers fluttering in the breeze, the Waireka looked to the large crowd present at the ceremony as good as ever she had looked, belying the fact that the tons of cement in her bottom would prevent her from sailing ever again. Nearly all the work of lilting has been carried out by tire cadets themselves since the Waireka was moved to her present and final berth in the oil area of the waterfront, and a fine job they have done, transforming a battered wreck into a serviceable training vessel. Several of the speakers told of these developments, and Cr E. .1. Smith, deputising for the mayor, Mr A. H. Allen, on behalf of the City Council and citizens in general, congratulated the lads on the success of their efforts and on the arrival of a redletter ” day in the history of the Sea Cadet movement in*Otago. Mr J. Sutherland Ross, president of the Navy League, after extending a welcome to those present, expressed thanks to all those who had assisted in making the training ship a reality. In particular he thanked Mr 0. S. Kirby, who originated the scheme whereby the money necessary to purchase the ship was raised; the Otago Harbour Board for its interest; and the City Council and the Dunedin Savings Bank for financial aid, the lattgr’s contribution being £3OO. All the support accorded showed confidence in the movement. Mr Ross referred to the value of the Sea Cadet organisation and of the importance placed upon it my the Admiralty. It was under Royal patronage, and the cadets usually joined up in one or the other of two most important branches of sea service—the Navy or the merchant marine. Commander F. Fraser stated that even if the cadets did not join either of those services they were being given invaluable training, particularly in discipline, and this helped to make them good citizens. The cadets woulld begin their training on the ship next Saturday, and over that week-end they would be visited by 15 Sea Cadets and the commanding officer of the Christchurch Division and by the commanding officer of the Wellington Division. The corps’ strength was inspected by Commander McDonald prior to his commissioning the vessel. He gave a brief address to the cadets, instructing them as to their future behaviour and stressing that the ship had now become their care. As he spoke the words, “ I now commission this ship for training purposes for the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps,” the commander’s pennant was broken out at the masthead.

The officers are: Commander F. Fraser, R.N.V.R., commander; Sea Cadet Lieutenant G. Robb, second in command; Sea Cadet Sub-lieutenant S. R. Peterson; Sea Cadet Warrant Officer W. Brown, and Sea Cadet Warrant Officer Anderson. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Waireka was thrown open for inspection and afternoon tea was served on board.