R.N. Ships At Auckland

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1947, Page 8

R.N. Ships At Auckland

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. This Day. The aircraft-carrier Theseus, escorted by the destroyer Cockade, entered Auckland Harbour after 9 a.m. today in brilliant sunshine. The ships exchanged salutes with the shore and berthed at 10 a.m. As the 13-gun salute from Devonport Naval Base boomed out, the ships' company came to attention and remained motionless until the sharper cracks of Theseus’ returning salute died away. Twenty-three aircraft from the carrier took off near Tiritiri before the ship's arrival at Auckland and roared over the city in tight formation on their way to Whenuapai airfield where they will carry out a training programme, concentrating on decklanding practice. Deck landing will be practised cn the carrier itself in the Hauraki Gulf on September 15 and 16. Many visiting Navy men hope to visit farms and it is possible that they will be given 48 hours' leave to accept rural hospitality. However, during their stay in Auckland, work will come first and pleasure afterward according to Rear-Admiral Creasy.

The ships will be open to visitors on three successive Sundays, tomorrow, SeDtember 7 and 14. HOSPITALITY OFFERS Auckland this morning rose to the occasion. Following requests for entertainment for the men of Theseus and Cockade, the naval information centre, staffed by women members of the Navy League, was inundated with calls from the time a telephone was installed at 9.30 a.m. Offers came from all parts of the city, outer suburbs and as far afield as Paeroa. Some offered entertainment for an afternoon, some for a week-end. A man from Lancashire wanted a boy from Lancashire; another from Somerset wanted someone from Somerset. An Englishman going to Waiheke tomorrow offered to take two marines there for the day. To some of the ratings who called at the booth Maori names provided some difficulty. There was one who wanted to go to Newton. “Go along the waterfront to the bottom of Queen Street and catch any tram going via the Town Hall." he was told. “Ask the conductor to put you off at Karangahape Road.” The naval man made unsuccessful attempts to pronounce Karangahape Road, and then said: “Perhaps you'd better spell it.”