H.—s.

Gisborne was visited from the 28th November to the sth December. Practices were carried out in the Hauraki Gulf on the 6th and 7th December, and the ship then returned to Auckland to give tlie usual Christmas leave. " Diomede " was in company with " Dunedin" during the period of gunnery and torpedo practices from the 22nd January to the 22nd February. The annual pulling and sailing regattas werfe held at Russell. " Diomede " left Russell for Napier on the 22nd February, calling at Waikokopu, Hawke's Bav en route. ■ j> The ship then proceeded to Wellington, arriving there on the 2nd March, and the ship's companv commenced their annual musketry training at Trentham Camp. H.M.S. " Dunedin." 17 H.M.S. "Dunedin" (Captain M. J. C. de Meric, M.V.0., Royal Navy) arrived at Wellington from Akaroa on the Ist April, 1933. Musketry courses were carried out at Trentham. The first annual Squadron Rifle Meeting was held during the period 18th-20th April ■; Dunedin " sailed on the 26th April for Queen Charlotte Sound, where landing parties were exercised, and proceeded thence to Auckland via Picton. The broad pendant of the Commodore Commanding was then transferred from "Diomede " to Dunedin," Captain de Meric returning to England. ti " D ™ edm " sailed on the 16tl1 June for a cruise in the Pacific Islands, and visited Norfolk island Noumea, Vila, Hog Harbour m the New Hebrides, Ocean Island, Tarawa and Funafuti in the Ellice Islands, Suva and Wakaya in the Fiji Islands, Apia, Pago Pago, and Nukualofa. Ihe ship returned to Auckland on the 14th August, and sailed for Russell on the 22nd Exercises and practices were carried out with the Australian Squadron during the period 23rd August - Bth September, after which the " Dunedin " visited Napier, Wellington, and Picton Further exercises were carried out with the Australian Squadron to the westward of Cook Strait on the 27th September. "Dunedin" then visited Milford Sounds, Stewart Island, Bluff, Dunedin, Timaru, Akaroa, Lyttelton, and Wellington, and returned to Auckland on the 18th November. On the 15th December I sailed from Wellington by mail steamer to attend the Naval Conference at Singapore, and Commander P. B. R. W. William-Powlett, Royal Navy, assumed command of the Dunedin until I rejoined the ship on the 2nd March. Gunnery, torpedo, and general exercises were carried out, and the annual pulling and sailing regattas held, during January and February. The ships of the New Zealand Division were at Russell from the sth to the 7t,h February in connection with the Waitangi celebrations. w 11-' 1)11116(1111 " P aid a sllort visit to Gisborne towards the end of February, and then proceeded to Wellington to enable the ship's company to carry out musketry training. ' VI. Pkoceedinrs (H.M. Sloops). 18. " Ver onica" (Captain W. L. Jackson, D.5.0., Royal Navy) and "Laburnum" (Commander R. Ramsbotham, Royal Navy) were at Wellington on the Ist April, 1933, and sailed for Auckland on the 24th April and 21st April respectively, the former visiting Wanganui and Whangaroa, and the latter Picton, en route. 19. " Veronica " sailed on the 16th June for a cruise in the Pacific Islands, visiting Vavau, bamoa, and various ports and anchorages in the Cook Islands, Society Islands, and Fiji Islands The ship returned to Auckland on the 13th October, cruised in New Zealand waters from November to January, and sailed for England on the 24th February to be paid off, and eventually broken up, after nearly fourteen years' service on the New Zealand Station. 20. H.M.S. Laburnum cruised in the Pacific Islands from June to September, visiting Noumea and various ports in the New Hebrides, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and the Fiji Islands Commander A. H. Maxwell-Hyslop, A.M., Royal Navy, relieved Commander R. Ramsbotham Royal Navy, on the 13th October. Laburnum visited a number of New Zealand ports from November to January, and was employed during February in the Hauraki Gulf in connection with gunnery practices. VII. H.M.S. " Philomel." 21. H.M.S. "Philomel" (Commander Basil C. B. Brooke, Royal Navy) continues to act as training and depot ship at Devonport, Auckland. The ship was docked in December, 1933, when her hull was found to be in sound condition. VIII. H.M.S. " Wakakuba." 22. H.M.S. " Wakakura " (Commissioned Gunner Archibald Garden, Royal Navy) has been employed almost continuously in training officers and men of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago Divisions of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. '

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