PACIFIC CRUISES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 121, 8 June 1937, Page 8

PACIFIC CRUISES

-Press Aesociation.)

Leith and Achilles Leave for Suva

« Bs Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Bound first for Suva where she is to embark the High Coinmissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Arthur Richards, the Imperial patrol sloop Leith left the Devonport naval base this morning to make her annual winter cruise of the South Pacific Islands. The ship will be away from Auckland for about three months and will visit some nine island r groups. During her last winter cruise to the Pacific the Leith paid a special visit to tho Phoenix groujz and took possession of five islands. Last December she left on a special service. mission whose destination was kept an official secret, but this winter's cruise is entirely a routine matter and the only extraordinary duty to be undertaken is the convoyance of Sir Arthur Richards for his. first inspection of tho islands under his jurisdiction since he assumed ofl3.ee last year. He will visit the New Hebrides, the Solomons, Nauru and Ocean Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands and Rotumah, and will be on board the Leith for a little over a month. On Saturday the flagship of the New Zealand division, tho Achilles, will 'loave Auckland for her winter cruise to tke islands, this being the first time she .has been away from New Zealand since she joined the station last year. The cruiser will go as far as Honolulu and Fanning Island and will retura on August 27 in time for the arrival of the new cruiser Leander from England.