OFFICER LEAVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 14

OFFICER LEAVES

COMMANDER TINLEYi WORK AT NAVAL BASE PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS After serving with tho New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy for almost two and a-half years as officer in charge of the Devon port Naval Rase, Commander C. 13. Tinlev, 0.8. E., will leave Auckland by tho Awatea to-day on his way back to England. His successor, Captain H. M. Barnes, took over his duties yesterday. " I have thoroughly enjoyed my term in New Zealand," said Commander Tinley yesterday, "and I have found both my job and tho country very interesting. I have also made a number of very good friends in New Zealand and, taking everything into consideration, I think I have been very lucky to have been here. My term has coincided with the reconstruction of tho base and I am sorry not to be ablo to seo its completion." Dominion Ratings As director of recruiting, said Commander Tinley, it had been his duty to enter a largo number of New Zealanders as ratings and ho had found them to be of a uniformly- high standard. They could compare on equal terms with the seamen of any other part of the Empire. Commander Tinley took leavo of his associates at tho base yesterday and also paid final calls on tho Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. W. B. Darlow. Captain Barnes accompanied him. Since Commander Tinley arrived in New Zealand an almost complete transformation has been effected to tho base. In addition to a rearrangement of the disposition of somo of the equipment, there has also been carried out an extensive construction programme, which has resulted in greatly enhanced efficiency and convenience.

Changes at Naval Base When ho came to New Zealand the old training and depot ship Philomel was still alongside a wooden jetty which had been there for the best part of this century. This had been replaced by a larger reinforced concrete structure. Calliope Wharf, where the two cruisers berth, has been substantially lengthened; extra training huts, administrative offices and supply stores hare been built; an old wooden workshop'has been demolished and is being replaced by a much larger and more modern building; a groat deal of excavation has been done to the cliff at the back of the base and the spoil from this has been used for the reclamation of a portion of Stanley Bay; and many other improvements have been effected with despatch and efficiency. As a result Commander Tinley has seen moro of the reorganisation of the base than perhaps any other executive officer who has been attached to the division. His part in carrying out the work was recognised earlier this year, when ho was awarded the 0.8. E., military division. Commander Tinley has also directed the recruiting of the large batches of New Zealand boys who in the past two years have joined the division in greater numbers than ever before.

NAVY LEAGUE FUNCTION PRESENTATION OF RUG A reception, was held in the Navy League rooms 011 Thursday, when tlio executive council of the Auckland Navy League bade farewell to Commander and Mrs. C. B. Tinley. The president, Commander C. H. T. Palmer, thanked Commander and Mrs. Tinley for their help to the league, and mention was made of the advances at the Auckland Naval Base under the supervision of Commander Tinley. They were presented with a New Zealand rug.