Thousands Visit Submarine

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 14

Thousands Visit Submarine

Thousands of cars jammed the streets of Lyttelton yesterday as people flocked to the port to see the visiting submarine HJMLS. Tabard.

Tunnel authorities said that at one stage yesterday afternoon traffic was so congested at Lyttelton that cars were banked up in the tunnel as far as the Heathcote entrance.

Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday about 6000 vehicles passed through the tunnel, three times the volume of usual Sunday traffic. On Saturday, 4800 vehicles went through the tunnel compared with an average 2500. The heaviest movements occurred between 1.30 and 3.30 p.m. during the first visiting hours on board the submarine.

The duty officer on board. Sub-Lieutenant N. D. V. Robertson, said there were 3500 visitors on Saturday and the same yesterday. He estimated that a further 3000 had to be turned away. Because of the great interest in the vessel, visiting hours on Saturday were extended until 7.30 pjn. instead of the scheduled 5 p.m.

Most of the visitors were young children accompanied by their parents. Crew members were stationed at various points on board to answer questions. Most visitors were hurried to allow as many people as possible to see the submarine. For those who missed, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s training launch gave trips around Lyttelton harbour. Some 200 people, mostly children, were aboard. An officer and two ratings

of the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve will be on board the Tabard when she sails from Lyttelton for Sydney today. They are Sub-Lieutenant B. E. W. Galilee, Petty Officer Machinist D. G. Shepherd and Able Seaman D. S. Bowie. The three men were invited by Tabard's command to make the cruise to Sydney, but will return to New Zealand at their own expense. The commanding officer of H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus (Com-

mander R. F. Sanderson) said it .was a rare experience for naval reservists to be taken on a long submarine cruise. Sub-Lieutenant Robertson said most of the journey to Sydney would be on the surface. “If the weather gets rough we will dive," he said. The Tabard has been in New Zealand waters for several weeks training New Zealand sailors. The cost to the New Zealand Government was £125.000. .