THE SEA SPIRIT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 4

THE SEA SPIRIT

AUCKLAND,September 17 Since its formation in Auckland over a year ago, the Royal Naval Reserve has been doing excellent work ill providing in some measure for the naval defence of the Dominion. At present the Reserve has been established only in Auckland, but its likely to be extended shortly to the other main ccnittres. l'n, Auckland the strength of the Reserve is 120 men, and it further com pany of 60 men is soon to bo formed.

The course of training is ail alternative to Territorial training, and care is taken to seo that participants in it are those boys who have a genuine love for the sen. The period of .training is five years, two years longer than the military term, but the hoys sccSn possessed of f ile old volunteer spirit, and undertake all their work cheerfully. A very fine type of lad is entering the Reserve, and it is hoped to make the service of some material vfilue to the Dominion. With the naval base established at Auckland, the boys have an opportunity of gaining first-hand knowledge of the workings of the Silent Service, At present some are away on tho Dunedin, which is undergoing firing practice in the Gulf, and another detachment is to leave with the Diomede on Monday. They will return on October Ist. Last year five officers and 95 men trained on warships, and it is hoped that every man will take an opportunity of indulging in sea-going training. 'Every cue, who has gone nway wants to go again. While they arc away with the warships the hoys mess and work with tho ship’s company. They have an opportunity of Obtaining a certain amount of firing practice, an opportunity of which they always make most use. However, the trips are valuable not so much for the instruction provided, as for the gaining of a knowledge of the spirit of the service. The boys are not treated as amateurs, but as seamen, and the trips have resulted in grent benefit to their work.