NAVAL CRUISES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22086, 16 April 1935, Page 8

NAVAL CRUISES

SLOOPS FOR ISLANDS BOTH VESSELS SAILING DETAILS OF ITINERARIES Cruises to the islands of the Pacific will bo made during the winter by both Imperial sloops attached to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. H.M.S. Leith, commanded by Captain Oliver Bevir, arrived on the station last year and the new sloop, H.M.S. Wellington, commanded by Commander J. B. E. Hall, is due afc Wellington from England on May 12. The Wellington is paying a courtesy call at the capital city, after which she is named, and will arrive at the Devonport Naval Base on May 20. She will remain at Auckland until July 5, when she will sail on her first island cruise. Her itinerary will be as follows: —Vila, July 20-24; Hog Harbour, July 25-30; Nauru, August 3-5; Ocean Island, August 6-8j Tarawa, August 9-13; Gardner Island, August 16-18; Hull Island, August 19; Sydney Island, August 20; Funafuti, August 24-29; Rotumnh, August 30-Septcmber 3; Lautoka, September 5-11; Suva, September 11-16; return to Auckland, Septem--21. The Leith's island cruise will be over three months in duration. The sloop will leave Auckland on June 11, her itinerary being as follows: —Niue, June 16; Pago Pago, June 17-21; Suva, June 25-July 4; Lautoka and Nandi Waters, July 4-9; Land Harbour, Yasawa, July 10-12; Lambasa, July 13-15; Somo Somo, July 16-19; Savu Savu, July 19-22; Levuka, July 23-26;. Ngau, July 26-29; Suva, "July 29-31; Apia and Tokelau Group, August 3-20; Nassau, August 22; Bora Bora, August 26-29; Papeete, August 30-September 6; Moorea, September 6-10; Mauke, September 12; Aitutaki, September 13; return to Auckland, September 21. Both H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede will make island cruises during the winter, but the detailed programmes have not been announced. The Dunedin will then be the flagship of the new commodore commanding the division, Captain the Hon. E. R. Drummond.