CORVETTE VISITS TIMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23347, 2 November 1945, Page 4

CORVETTE VISITS TIMARU

Southern Cruise Of Arabis

Open For Inspection At

Week-end

H.M.N.Z.S. Arabis, a 1200-ton corvette, arrived at Timaru from Lyttelton yesterday morning on a yisit lasting until next Monday morning. She will be open to the public for inspection from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday. This small unit of the New Zealand Navy is one of a class of war vessels primarily used for anti-submarine and convoy work. She has a maximum speed of 17 knots and her armaments comprise one four-inch gun forward, one twin Oerlikon and six single Orelikon anti-aircraft guns aft, and depth charges. She is also fitted with radar and submarine-detecting apparatus. Built in Greenock, Scotland, and commissioned in February, 1944. Arabis did convoy work in the Atlantic on her maiden voyage out, arriving at Auckland in August of last year. After a southern cruise, calling at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin, 'she left New Zealand Istst November for anti-submarine and convoy work in the Pacific, returning to Auckland last July. She was then refitted for her present cruise and has so far called at Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Lyttelton and Timaru. At 7 o'clock on Monday morning she leaves for Oamaru, thence Dunedin, Bluff and back to Auckland.

The corvette has a full complement of 80, under the command of Lieut. C. Clinton Stevens, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Ashburton. Her other five officers are Lieut. W. N. Hancock, R.N.Z.N.V.R., Auckland, second in command; Lieut. D. Blake, R.N.Z.N.V.R., Auckland, navigating officer; Sub-Lieut. E. Chisholm, R.N.Z.N.V.R., Christchurch, anti-submarine officer; Sub-Lieut. V. W. Were, R.N.Z.N.V.R.. Matamata, watch-keeping officer; and Warrant Officer H. H. Harris, R.N.Z.N., Auckland, engineer officer. An official visit to the corvette was paid yesterday morning by the president of the Timaru branch of the Navy League (Mr W. B. Cunningham) and members of the executive. The Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) will pay his official call this morning.

Personnel from the vessel were guests of the Navy League at a dance at the Nurses' Home last evening. Tonight they will be the guests of the Cave sub-branch of the Navy League and the Cave Women’s Institute at a dance at Cave. An endeavour is being made to organise a cricket match tomorrow afternoon between the Timaru Cricket Club and a team from the corvette.