WINTER CRUISES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 April 1937, Page 9

WINTER CRUISES

NEW ZEALAND NAVAL DIVISION SLOOP WELLINGTON TO TAKE SCIENTISTS TO CANTON ISLAND [United Press Association] AUCKLAND, 27th April. All three sea-going vessels of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy are to leave Auckland within the next few weeks to make their annual winter cruises to the Pacific Islands. The sloop Wellington will sail on 4th May and return on 3rd August, the Leith will leave on 7th June and return on 18th September, and the flagship, H.M.S. Achilles, will leave on her first cruise away from New Zealand since she has been on station on 12th June. In addition to undertaking her usual patrol duties, the Wellington is to take a party of scientists to Canton Island in the Phoenix group for the purpose of observing the eclipse of the sun. The expedition is to be led by Mr C. B Michie, of Kaitaia, and will arrive at the island on 26th May. Special instruments are being taken by the party and it is expected important data will be obtained from observing the total eclipse, which will be seen only from the Phoenix islands.

The programme for the Achilles has not yet been finally approved, but after leaving Auckland on 12th June she will make her first call at Nukualofa and then go on to Suva. The cruises of the two sloops will embrace practically all the island groups of the South Pacific and the warships will call at Polynesia. Melanesian a.id Micronesian islands

It is noticeable that the Leith is going this year from Suva to the New Hebrides. Last year, when H.M.S. Dunedin planned to go to the New Hebrides first, it was found that the quarantine regulations in Fiji governing vessels coming from a recognised malaria belt, would interfere with the old flagship’s programme, so the visit to the New Hebrides was cancelled.