FLAGSHIP RETURNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 12

FLAGSHIP RETURNS

UNEVENTFUL CRUISE

MOVEMENTS OF DIVISION

ISLAND VISITS NEXT YEAR

After an uneventful cruiso (if two months, during which she visited Bluff, Dunedin, Lvtteltou ami Wellington, 11.M.5. Diomede, flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navv, returned to Auckland yesterday afternoon. The cruiser anchored in the stream for a while after her arrival, and then went into dock at Devnnport for cleaning, which will start to-day. "It was merely a routine cruise and passed off without incident," an officer said. Commodore F. Burges Watson inspected southern divisions of the lioyal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Dunedin, Lyttelton and Wellington. In every centre visited officers and ratings were the recipients of what they term "true New Zealand hospitality." Commodore Burges Watson did not return on the Diomede, having been detained in Wellington on Naval Board business. On the final stages of her cruiso the flagship was commanded by Commander V. A. C. Crutchlcy, V.C. Commodore Burges Watson will return to Auckland on December 5.

Movements After Christmas H.M.S. Dunedin is making a longer southern cruise than the flagship, and will return to Auckland on December 5. Christmas leave will be granted by both cruisers until early in January, and later in that month they will carry out field training, probably at some spot in Hie Ilauraki Gulf. They will then leave on a cruise to North Island ports, and there is a possibility that some South Island ports also may be visited. The crews of the two cruisers and the sloops Veronica and Laburnum will carry out musketry training at Trcntham during March and April. When the cruisers return to Auckland, the Diomede will pay off at the Devonport Naval Baso and the majority of her Imperial ratings will leave on their return to England, ono party probably in May and the other in August. Meanwhile the flagship will withdraw for her refit —the first refit of a cruiser to bo carried out in New Zealand—and it is probable that the broad pennant of Commodore Burges Watson will be transferred to H.M.S. Dunedin. The Diomede will remain in dockyard hands for about three months. Sloops to go South

According to present arrangements, the Dunedin will leave on her annual Island cruise toward the end of June next year, and the Diomede, after she is recommissioned next August, will probably unclertake a short Island cruise.

The two sloops will leave Auckland on December 5 and will carry out gunnery exercises and manoeuvres together in the Hauraki Gulf. The Veronica will continue on her annual summer cruise, visiting Tauranga. Lyttelton, Picton, Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin, Stewart Island, Bluff, Oamaru, Akaroa, Wellington, Wanganui and Whangaroa, returning to Auckland on May 6. The Laburnum will return from the Hauraki Gulf on December 16 and will leave on her summer cruise on January 17, visiting Napier, Dunedin, Timaru, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Wellington and Picton, returning to Auckland on May 1. The minesweeper Wakakura will leave Auckland early in January for Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin, where she will assist in the annual training of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve divisions.