NEW ZEALAND WATERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND WATERS

WORK OF THE ROYAL NAVY ADDRESS TO SHIPLOVERS The valuable service rendered in New Zealand waters by ships of the Royal Navy was mentioned by .Mr. It. A. Falla, a vice-president of the Shiplovers' Society, in an address at the monthly meeting of the society on Tuesday night. There was a large attendance, the president, Captain H. H. Sergeant, presiding. In the early history of the colony, said Mr. Falla, steam sloops of the Royal Navy were used for surveying New Zealand waters, the first sloop, H.M.S. Driver, arriving in 1846. The greater part of the North Island coast was surveyed by H.M.S. Pandora, the vessel returning to England by way of Cape Horn, and the number r of ships she spoke to on the way home indicated the extent of the traffic 011 tljp Cape Horn route.

Mr. Falla referred to H.M.S. Challenger and H.M.S. Wolverine, which operated in New Zealand waters in th«> early days, the Wolverine finally being broken up at Stanley Bay after a period in the coastal trade: In th» 'eighties, there came to New Zealand a number of naval vessels which created considerable interest. They gave evidence of great advances in armaments, and had become more like steamers, although still carrying a large amount of canvas, which, in the comparatively peaceful reign of Queen Victoria —at least as far as the navy was concerned —served to keep the sailors occupied. H.M.S. Philomel, so well known to Aucklanders, was builjb in 1898, befoi'e the days of naval competition.

About 1870, Mr. Fa 11a added, it was decided to put into commission a scheme of Government survey of waters, the Government operating the paddle steamer Luna, the first 6f a number of steamers which reudered a valuable service, generally overlooked. The Hinemoa was a Government vessel used for official visits, and, amoug other things, for the transport of troop; 1 during the Maori wars. She was a vessel with a record full of interest. The speaker also- referred to the cable steamer Tutanekai, which succeeded th? Hinemoa, and the present lighthouse steamer, Matai.