H—s

8. Mines rendered Safe. —During the current year there were two German and two British mines rendered safe by the Base torpedo staff, assisted by the Army Bomb Disposal Unit. One German mine which had drifted ashore by Raglan had broken loose and drifted from the minefield laid by an enemy raider off the coast of Australia. Waitangi Ceremony 9. A new flag-mast was erected at Waitangi, in the grounds of the Treaty House, in November, 1946, to replace a mast that had decayed. Two spars which comprise the mast and yard are of kauri, and were grown in the Waipoua Forest. The truck of the mast is surmounted by a crown which was formerly on the ensign staff of H.M.N.Z.S. " Philomel." 10. On 6th February, 1947, a ceremony was held to commemorate the landing of the first Governor, Captain Hobson, R.N., at Waitangi. A Union Flag was hoisted on the new foremast. The First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore G. H. Faulkner, D.S.C., R.N., accompanied by Captain C. R. Y. Pugh, C.8.E., R.N., inspected the ceremonial guard provided by H.M.N.Z.S. " Tamaki." Wellington 11. H.M.N.Z.S. " Cook."—H.M.N.Z.S. " Cook," Shelly Bay, paid off on the 18th June, 1946. The buildings comprising this establishment are now occupied by the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the undertaking that, should the emergency arise, the Base and its buildings will revert to the Naval Service. 12. Naval W/T Station, Waiouru. —The Royal New Zealand Navy has in Waiouru W/T Station a wireless station equipped with the most modern apparatus and designed on the best technical lines, and of a size far beyond anything that was contemplated pre-war. 13. On the cessation of hostilities the question of the retention of the station was in doubt, but it has now been declared a permanent establishment of the Royal New Zealand Navy. The complement borne during the period of hostilities was 80 W.R.N.Z.N.S. personnel and 70 ratings. This number was continued until October 1945, when a gradual reduction in the W.R.N.Z.N.S. complement was made, the last W.R.N.Z.N.S. personnel leaving in mid-December of that year. For the next few months the station carried a complement of approximately 105, consisting of continuous service and " hostilities only " ratings. The volume of traffic at this time was still fairly high, and it was not until June, 1946, that the W/T commitments were sufficiently reduced to allow the last of the " hostilities only " ratings to return to civilian life. The present authorized complement of the station is 3 officers and 70 ratings. 14. The activities of the station consist mainly of working adjacent commands, Whitehall W/T, and, in addition, taking part in the long-distance ship-shore wireless organization. The total number of groups handled on all circuits over the last twelve months was 1,250,000. 15. Waiouru is an isolated locality, and full advantage has been taken to provide all possible facilities for out-door sport. A football team has each year been entered in the local senior championship and has always made a good showing. Cricket is played, and a nine-hole golf course has been constructed by personnel of the station. Tennis is also well patronized, a good hard court being available in the camp at all times. The cinema at the Waiouru Military Camp provides entertainment on four nights a week. 16. Fuel Installation. —The Naval fuel installation at Wellington is now utilized for supplying oil fuel to the New Zealand Railways for oil-fired locomotives. Lyttelton 17. H.M.N.Z.S. " Tasman." —H.M.N.Z.S. " Tasman," commissioned in January, 1944, functioned as a training establishment. until the cessation of hostilities, when it was reduced to a demobilization centre for South Island personnel.

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