DIOMEDE’S VISIT TO NAPIER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 306, 10 December 1931, Page 9

DIOMEDE’S VISIT TO NAPIER

HARBOUR FACILITIES. REAR-ADMIRAL BLAKE'S APPRECIATION. Commander Geoffrey Blake, RearAdmiral of the New Zealand Squadron, who was in charge of H.M.S. Diomede during its recent visit to Napier in a letter received by Captaiq H. WhiteParsons, harbourmaster at Napier, Which was before the Napier Harbour Board yesterday, stated: “On the departure of H.M.S. Diomede from Napier I wish to express to you, the Harbour Board and the harbourmaster my sincere thanks for tho many facilities which were put at out disposal during our stay. “It was most convenient to us to be berthed alongside the Glasgow Wharf and the ease with which we secured and cast off aro a tribute to the excellent arrangements made by Captain White-Paisons and his staff. “Waving Visited all tho principal harbours in New Zealand, and also being conversant with the majority of harbour Works throughout tho world, it appears to me that you have in the Breakwater and Glasgow Wharf lhe makings of a harbour, which, when developed, will allow the largest ships on the New Zealand trade routes to berth with ease and lie alongside With security. “I regret that this will be my last visit during my command, but when I return homo next April I shall carry away with me many happy recollections of my visits to Napier ahd the kindness and, courtesy of the harbour authorities.” In dis'eussing the letter, Mr T. M. Geddis said it was most valuable as an expression of opinion from a nautical man of considerable experience. The information contained in it would bo invaluable to the board, in shaping its policy in the future, and in addition to returning thanks to Rear-Admiral Blake, the letter should bo filed for future reference. “I don’t know that it could .be utilised for the guidance of the board,” replied the chairman, Mr. A. E. Jull, M.P. “It is a very nice letter though.” Mr. P. F Higgins said that it was an expression of opinion from an expert in navigation, especially in the aspect of the safety of vessels, and he did not think it a matter which was being treated as light-heartedly as some members of tho board were treating it. Those who were adopting that attitude should take notice of what was contained in the letter and permit such expressions of opinion to guide them in the future administration of the board. The expressions of experts on navigation ah'd techriir-al matters had been available to the board for many years, but they had never been availed of by certain board members. Mr. J. E. Jones: I object to Mr Higgins reading us a lesson on policy merely on this letter. “I hope you have all appreciated Mr. Higgins’ lecture,” stated Mr. Jull. Mr. Higgins: It’s like water off a duck’s back. Tho board agreed then td reply to the rear-admiral in suitable terms.