ISLAND CRUISES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21518, 15 June 1933, Page 12

ISLAND CRUISES

FLAGSHIP SAILS TO-DAK EXERCISES IN AUGUST AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATION VESSELS TO VISIT AUCKLAND Further provisional arrangements have been made for the combined naval exercises to bo carried out in New Zealand waters by the two cruisers from the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and ships from the Royal Australian Navy. It is hoped that the Australian cruisers H.M.A.S.' Canberra and H.M.A.S. Australia, probably accompanied by the destroyer Tattoo, will arrive off North Cape toward the end of August. They aro expected to remain in New Zealand waters until the end of September. H.M.S. Dunedin, flagship of Commodore F. Burgcs Watson, will leave Auckland at 11.30 o'clock this morning on her annual Island cruise and will return on August 15. By this time, H.M.S. Diomede, which is undergoing refit at the Devonport naval base, will probablv be recommissioned, and the two cruisers will meet the Australian ships off North Cape. A mock battle is to bo held, the Australians taking the part of an attacking fleet, while the Dunedin and Diomede, possibly with Air Force co-operation, will have the task of defending the coast. Regatta at Russell All the ships will then probably put into Russell and a regatta and other competitions between the ships will be held in the Bay of Islands. The warI ships are then expected to proceed to i Auckland, and on the way will prob- ; ably carry out gunnery practices in : the Hauraki Gulf during the first week ; in September. Further gunnery practices are to be held in the Hauraki Gulf when the visiting warships leave at the- end of September on their rei turn to Australia. The two sloops. H.M.S. Veronica, • commanded by Captain W. L. Jackson, and H.M.S. Laburnum, commanded by j Commander R. Rainsbotham, will leave ■on their Island cruises to-morrow morning. Both are making extended j cruises this year, and consequently ! will be unable to take part in the combined exercises. Originally the j Laburnum was to have sailed to-dav, but owing to the late arrival at Wellington of the llotorua, on which new ratings for the sloop are coifting to New Zealand, her departure has been postponed until to-morrow. Western Pacific Cruises The Dunedin's Island cruise will be ! chiefly among British possessions in l the Western Pacific, although she will ! also visit Noumea and Vila and will ; travel as far north as Ocean Island. | The Laburnum, which will return to | Auckland on September 16, will visit I Noumea, Vila, Ocean Island and the ! Fiji group. The Veronica will not re- ' turn to port until October 14. She will visit Tonga, the Cook Islands, Samoa and the Fiji Group, and during her cruise will take the Administrator of Western Samoa, Mr. H. E. Hart, and the Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands, Mr. H. F. Ayson, on visits to < outlying islands in their respective territories.

The work of refitting the Diomede at Devonport is proceeding to schedule. The cruiser trill go into dock on Monday to enable some of the more extensive repair works to be carried out.