AN OFFICIAL CALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 4

AN OFFICIAL CALL.

Governor-General Visits Naval Base. IMPRESSIVE SCENES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. May 27. One of the most colourful and impressive ceremonies held at the naval base took place this morning;, when the Governor-General, Lord Galway, paid an official call on IJ.M.S. Dunedin. Diomede, and Philomel, of the New Zealand Naval Squadron and the Imperial sloops Leith and Wellington. All the ships were dressed in honour of the visit. His Excellency, accompanied by his naval A.D.C., Lieutenant Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, R.N. (retired), and his military secretary. Major Purvis, left the Admiralty launch steps at 9 20 in the Dunedin’s motor-boat in charge of Sub-lieutenant Glutterbuck. The boat flew the Governor-General’s blue and gold distinguishing flag. On arrival alongside the Dunedin, the flagship of Commodore the lion E. R. Drummond, a bugler sounded the "Alert.” His Excellency was met at the top of the gangway by the Commodore, while a guard of Royal Marines in review order presented arms. The “General Salute” was sounded and his Excellency inspected the guard, after which the flagship’s officers were introduced. The ship’s company then marched past his Excellency. The same ceremony was carried out on the Diomede. which is berthed alongside the flagship. The ships’ companies of the Leith and Wellington were drawn up on the extension ietty, where a naval guard received his Excellency. The officers were introduced and the ships’ companies inspected. The same procedure was carried out with the officers and crew of the Philomel. Ilis Excellencv then made a thorotigh inspection of the dockvard Returning to the Dunedin, the Vice-Regal partv soent a few minutes in the Commodore’s cabin. As his Excellency left the flagship, the “Alert” was sounded on all ships and the guards presented arms while the “General Salute” was sounded. As soon as his Excellencv •was clear of .the Dunedin. “Commence” was sounded and a Vice-Regal salute of 19 guns boomed out from the Philomel’s battery and the Governor-Gen-eral’s distinguishing flag was broken at the mast-head of the flagship. His Excellencv stood to -attention in the cockpit of the launch until the last report had died away.