VISITING WARSHIPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 66

VISITING WARSHIPS.

DIOMEDE IN PORT.

H.M.S. Diomede arrived at Dunedin on Saturday morning from Lyttelton, and was berthed at the Rattray street wharf. During the morning Captain J. Maclean (harbour master), Messrs H. E. Moller (chairman), H. C. Campbell, J. Loudon, D. Sharpe, members of the board, and Mr J. Renton (acting secretary) boarded the ship and extended an official welcome to Captain L. V. Wells, D. 5.0., his officers and men. Mr Moller informed Captain Wells that the facilities of the port were at his service during the stay of the Diomede. Later in the morning the Deputy Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) and the City Council Civic Committee also boarded the Diomede and welcomed Captain Wells and his'officers on behalf of the citizens. Mr J. Waddell Smith (president of the Navy League)- and Mr W. F. Edmond have arranged with Captain Wells for the school members of the league to visit the Diomede on Wednesday afternoon. A day will be fixed for adult members of the league and their families to visit the ship.

Various entertainments will be provided for the ship’s company this week. The Diomede left Auckland on February 19, and arrived at Lyttelton on February 21. This is the ship’s first visit to Dunedin since October, 1927. During that period she has visited England for recommissioning. The Diomede left the base at Auckland on May 19, 1928, and remained in England for seven weeks, and arrived back in November.

The ship’s, crew consists of 402 men all told, including 21 officers. A small percentage of the ratings are New Zealanders who have qualified at Home. Captain L. V. Wells, D. 5.0., is now in command of H.M.S. Diomede, and is paying his first visit to Dunedin. The list of officers is as follows:—Captain L. V. Wells, D. 5.0., Commander R. E. Jeffreys, D. 5.0., Lieutenant-commander G. C. Harper, Lieutenant-commander B. M. Douglas, Lieutenant-commander G. G. F. Branson, Lieutenant G. V. Gladstone, Lieutenant N. G. Leeper, Lieutenant R. F. Jessel, Lieutenant J. T. Currie, Captain M. Hardy Spicer (Royal Marines), Comman-der-engineer V. E. Kemball, Surgeoncommander A. H. Joy, Paymaster-Lieuten-ant-comniander H. H. Simpson, Engineerlieutenant H. A. Higgs, Paymaster-lieuten-ant E. F. B. George, Commissioned-gunner A. H. Pryce, Commissioned-gunner E. Pierce, Commissioned-gunner (T) H. Dean, Mr G. H. Cummings, D.S.M., warrant engineer, Mr R. Y. Baillie, schoolmaster. and Mr A. M. Watts, acting warant shipwright. All these officers, with the exception of Captain Wells, Surgeon-commander Joy, Paymaster-lieutenant George, and Com-missioned-gunner Pryce, belong to the new commission, the others having been on the ship previously.

The Diomede will remain at Dunedin until March 11, when she will proceed to -Paterson Inlet (March 12-to 18), Bluff (March •19 to 22). Milford Sound (March 23). Dusky Sound (March 24), Timaru (March 25 to April 2), Nelson (April 3 to 8), Pelorus Sound (April 8 to 9), Napier (April 10 to 18), Wellington (April 20 to May 9), Gisborne (Maj' 10 to May 14), Tokomaru (May 14 to May 16). The ship is due back at the Auckland base on May 17.