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in seamanship, gunnery, and mine-sweeping. I feel that the extension of Class Dof the Reserve to other parts of the Dominion will be equally successful, and I strongly recommend it. 4. A large number of men of this class of the Reserve, under their own officers, took part in the reception at Auckland of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, assisting the active-service personnel of the New Zealand Squadron in lining the route. They presented a very smart appearance. V. Proceedings. A. H.M.S. " Dunedin." H.M.S. " Dunedin," under the command and wearing the broad pendant of Commodore Alister F. Beal, C.8., C.M.G., visited Lyttelton, Dunedin, Wellington, and Napier during April, 1926, returning to Auckland in May for docking and annual refit. A cruise in the South Pacific islands was commenced on the 25th May and lasted until the return to Wellington at the beginning of August. It was arranged to be at Suva to coincide with, the visit of His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand. The following were also visited : Lautoka, Nukualofa. 2. I hoisted my broad pendant in succession to Commodore Beal on the 10th August, 1926, and took over command of the station and H.M.S. " Dunedin." On the 13th August I was honoured with a visit by His Excellency the Governor-General, who inspected the ship's company. 3. On the Ist September " Dunedin " proceeded to Auckland, and from there to the Hauraki Gulf for exercises. During October the following places were visited : Tauranga, Opotiki, White Island, Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne, Wellington, and Picton. The annual musketry course was held at Trentham in October-November. I am. much obliged to the Wellington Harbour Board for their courtesy in providing berths at the wharves for both " Dunedin " and " Diomede " whilst this course was being carried out at Trentham, and I trust that it may be possible to berth ships alongside during this course in succeeding years. In the latter part of November and early December variotis tactical exercises and drills were carried out with H.M.S. " Diomede," and while making her way to Auckland to give Christmas leave calls were made by " Dunedin " at Pelorus Sound and Napier. 4. On the 24th January, 1927, after I had turned over the command to Captain J. S. M. Ritchie, Royal Navy, and transferred my broad pendant to H.M.S. " Diomede," " Dunedin " sailed for England for refit and recommissioning, proceeding via Suva, Honolulu, San Diego (California), Panama, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and thence to Sheerness, arriving on the 24th March, 1927. All Imperial ratings on loan agreements to New Zealand terminating prior to the 31st March, 1928, were sent Home in the ship to be relieved, and as many New Zealand ratings as possible were drafted to the ship to enable them to visit England and undergo short courses. B. H.M.S. " Diomede." H.M.S. " Diomede," under the command of Captain J. S. M. Ritchie, R.N., visited Russell, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Wellington in company with H.M.S. " Dunedin," and Nelson independently, during March and April, returning to Auckland on the Ist May, 1926. The islands cruise was commenced on the 10th May, and visits were made to Niue; Apia, Pago Pago, Suva, Lautoka, Levuka, Bora Bora, Papeete, Rarotonga, Yavau, and Nukualofa, ending at Auckland on the 20th August, 1926. The ship was then docked in the Calliope Dock, and local refit taken in hand. Combined exercises with H.M.S. " Dunedin " were carried out in the Hauraki Gulf at the end of September, and the ship arrived at Wellington on the 20th October for the annual musketry course at Trentham. After leaving Wellington further exercises were carried out with H.M.S. " Dunedin," and en route to Auckland visits were made to Oueen Charlotte Sound, Picton, Napier, and Gisborne. 2. Captain J. S. M. Ritchie handed over the command, and on the 24th January, 1927, " Diomede," wearing the broad pendant of the Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station, sailed for the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Islands for exercises, afterwards returning to Auckland. 3. On the 21st February " Diomede " proceeded to sea to meet H.M.S. " Renown " with the Duke and Duchess of York on board, and escorted her to Auckland on the 22nd February. 4. From Auckland '' Diomede " proceeded to Wellington for the Royal visit to that city, and sailed for the Chatham Islands, Timaru, and Bluff on the 11th March. While at the Chatham Islands the opportunity was taken to practise landing parties and storming tactics. 5. It was intended that " Diomede " should have the honour of conveying H.R.H. the Duke of York from Bluff to rejoin H.M.S. " Renown," but, to my great disappointment, the very bad weather made it necessary for me to make other arrangements ; to have attempted the operation would have submitted His Royal Highness to verj' great risk, and rendered possible serious damage to " Diomede." 6. The ship returned to Auckland from Bluff, and, having completed with fuel and stores, sailed on the 31st March for Suva to embark His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific and the New Hebrides Commission. C. lI.M. Trawler " Wakakura." H.M.T. " Wakakura " was commissioned at Sheerness on the Bth April, 1926, under the command of Lieutenant R. A. McDonald, Royal Navy. A visit was paid to Portsmouth in June, and trials of mine-sweeping gear were carried out. Following exercises with the mine-sweeping flotilla at Portland, " Wakakura " sailed for New Zealand on the 14th June. St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, was reached on the 26th June, and after coaling and making minor repairs departure was made for Port of Spain, Trinidad, arriving on the 17th July. Here a thorough examination of the machinery

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