TRAINING AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 10

TRAINING AT SEA.

YOUNG RESERVISTS BENEFIT

RETURN OF THE WAKAKURA.

EXTENDED SOUTHERN CRUISE. The smallest unit of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, the trawler "YVakakura, returned to .Auckland yesterday morning after a six months' cruise in Southern waters. During this time the trawler has acted as a training ship for nearly 500 officers and men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Commissioned-Gunner T. E. Brooker, officer in command of tho Wakakura, described the trip yesterday as uneventful, but paid tribute to tho well-maintainecl standard of efficiency in the various divisions of tho Naval Reserve. Tho Wakakura left Auckland on January 1 and after landing torpedoes at Wellington and Lvttelton arrived at Dunedin to commence tho training of officers and men of tho Duncdin division of tho reserve. Six sections, each of about 18 reservists, received training at sea, each section spending a woek on board tho trawler. A similar procedure was followed at Lvttelton, where the trawler gave sea training to five sections. Tho Wakakura then sailed for Wellington aud six sections of reservists wore given sea training, principally in tho Marlborough Sounds. Tho trawler left Wellington for Auckland last Monday, calling at Napier for a day en route.

Only one untoward incident occurred <ui tho Southern cruise. Early in tiio year the Wakakura, cn route from Timaru to Akaroa, sighted a small fishing launch which had broken down. The two fishermen who occupied the launch asked to ho towed to Akaroa and the tow of 60 miles was accomplished without, further incident.

The trawler has one souvenir of her cruise in a new "ship's crest." This consists of a fine set of antlers, a ten-pointer, which was presented to the ship by a Marlborough sportsman and which has been placed on the forepart of the bridge, above the ship's bell. The Wakakura berthed at Devonport yesterday morning and during the next few weeks will undeigo overhaul and will grant leave. The trawler will go into dock for repairs at the end of this month or early in August and will then provide training cruises in the Hauraki Gulf for sections of tho Auckland division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.