WARSHIPS INSPECTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17978, 31 December 1921, Page 6

WARSHIPS INSPECTED.

VISIT BY PRIME MINISTER.

TOUR OF NAVAL STATTON.

SUPERIORITY OF DOCK

A tour of inspection of the warships Chatham, Philomel, and Veronica and of the Admiralty buildings of the naval station, was undertaken yesterday afternoon by tho Prime Minister and tho Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for PubUc Works. The party, including Mr. Massey's secretary, Mr. F. D. Thomson, was met at tho Man-o'-War steps by a steam launch and conveyed to H.M.S. Chatham, where it was received by Commodore Hotham and Commanders Walsh and Lewin. After inspection of tho ship tho party went ashore to the dock where Mr. Massey inspected tho various stores, workshops, and recreation rooms essential to a naval base.

In passing the Calliope Dock Commodore Hotham remarked upon its superiority to tho docks at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, as a large vesi-cl could be floated in nt >"iy state of tho tide, and oven a damaged ship drawing 30fU of w%ter could bo towed in and docked.

The portable wireless set recently aspired, by the Chatham w_us inspected by Mr. Coates, who displayed great interest in the compact plaut. The set has a sending range of over 50 miles and an almost unlimited receiving rango in good weather conditions, so that in the event of men being left on an island they can receive instructions and send messages. An up-to-dato and complete workshop alongside tho dock is being utilised by tho naval (ittxsrs, who have ready to their hands the best of tools and instruments for all classes of

engineering. The recreative side of the Bailor's lite has not been neglected, and the party was shown over the spacious football and cricket fnid and the buildings acquired by Uio Admiralty. Built to the pattern of army huts there ib u hosniUl h lecture room, and a church, where services are held every Sunday. The Navy League, of whose work ollieers and men spoko moat highly, baa given a billiard tablo for the recreation room, and the V.M.C.A. haa promised furniture, books, and games. Water polo and swimming sports aro hold in the dock, about 05 per cent- of tho rocruits being able to swim. A further hut on the ground is used as a filoro. The visitors inspected the boys' quartern on the Philomel. They afro visited the Veronica, and were entertained at afternoon tea on tho Chatham by the eommodoro beforo proceeiling back to tho city.