H—s

14. Radar Stations. —All radar stations were closed by October, 1945. All sets were dismantled and returned to store, while the buildings were declared surplus. 15. Defensively Armed Merchant Ships.—Training, inspection, and maintenance was continued until August, 1945. Since the cessation of hostilities, thirty-two ships have been disarmed and all guns returned to the Armament Supply Officer, Auckland. 16. Degaussing Range.—This range ceased operations on 31st December, 1945, and is to be lifted in conjunction with the loop-lifting operations. 17. Naval Electrical School, Petone. —This school ceased operations in October, 1945, and all equipment was dismantled and returned to the store. The buildings have been declared surplus. 18. Naval Control Service. —The routeing of all overseas vessels leaving Wellington was continued up to 31st December, 1945. The routeing of all vessels in the Pacific area lapsed as from Ist January, 1946, from which date hydrographic information has been supplied by hydropac messages broadcast by W/T. The closing of Naval Control Services in many other ports has increased the amount of work which has to be cleared up on arrival of ships in Wellington. Boarding of vessels, supplying of confidential books, compass adjustments, clearances, and fuel permits were dealt with efficiently by the staff. 19. Naval W/T Station, Waiouru. —From the date of its commencement of operation in August, 1943, until the cessation of hostilities the Naval W/T Station at Waiouru handled the following approximate numbers of groups : out, 9,486,000 ; in, 7,905,000. A high-powered broadcast of important administrative traffic to the British Pacific Fleet was arranged at very short notice in June, 1945, and operated until after the arrival of "J " Force, when it finally closed down. Ships of the British Pacific Fleet, reported good reception strength at all times when off the Japanese coast (at a distance of 6,000 miles from Waiouru). During the period of Japan's capitulation, Waiouru became the direct W/T link between Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser in H.M.S. " Duke of York " and Admiralty and handled with precision most of the high-priority secret signal traffic in connection with the signing of the surrender terms, as well as a considerable quantity on the same subject from Admiral the Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, South-east Asia. Lyttelton 20. Port-war Signal Station. —This station was closed down shortly after YJ Day, while requirements for the examination battery ceased at the same time. 21. Naval Wireless Station. —Operation has now been reduced to maintaining a limited routine for signal messages from Waiouru and supplying the inter-Island steamer express vessels with their positions as supplied by the Army radar unit. 22. No. 4 Wharf. —All activities at No. 4 Wharf have now ceased, the A/S workshop, electrical workshop, and naval stores having closed down. 23. Naval Store, Ashburton. —The naval stores at Ashburton are in the process of being forwarded to Auckland as shipping-space occurs. 24. Navy Office, Lyttelton.—Navy Office, which was situated in Norwich Quay, has been closed down and all activities have been removed to H.M.N.Z.S. " Tasman." 25. H.M.N.Z.S. " Tasman."-—Tasman " has been used as a signal and cookery training establishment until recently, but is now reduced to a demobilization centre for South Island personnel, pending its conversion to a Torpedo, A/S, and Signal Training School. Dunedin 26. Post-war Signal Station, Taiaroa Heads.—This station has been closed down and the buildings have been returned to the Otago Harbour Board.

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