AUCKLAND’S FAREWELL

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1938, Page 10

AUCKLAND’S FAREWELL

TO H.M.S. ACHILLES. AUCKLAND, November 30. The city’s friendliness toward Commodore I. G. 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 expbassed in happy fashion at a civic farewell held in the Town Hall. The gathering was a ( prelude to the cruiser’s on Friday for England, where she is to be, recommissioned before returning to New Zealand. I

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, marched up Queen street to the Town Hall. The parade was immaculately' presented, and attracted th? interested attention of a large body' of citizens. At the Town Hall there, was a gathering of more than 2000, including many schoolchildren. 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 thanks of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Government forlji? manner in which the Achilles had upneld 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, a s well as to the officers. Mr Savage’s greetings to the officers and men, and his wishes for a happy voyage were also expressed in a letter from him apologising for not being able to be present. Similar letters were received from the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), Archbishop Averill, and Bishop Liston. Sir Ernest' Davi s 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 who’e. They had given the ship great kindness, and had done everything possible to make the stay of the officers and men in New Zealand a memorable one.