PAID OFF.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1927, Page 4

PAID OFF.

N.Z, NAVY SLOOPS,

NEW PERSONNEL OROLES

AI'CKLAND. January H

The two sloops. 11.M.5. Veronica and 11.M.5. Laburnum, maintained by tbo Imperial Government on the Now Zealand station, paid ofF to-day, and with the arrival of the new personnel, commenced a new commission.

In accordance with a very old custom which the Royal Navy is eager to preserve paving-off pennants were flown. The Admiralty does not supply those streamers which have waved from every ship at the end of a commission since long before Nelson’s time. 'lhe ship’s company supplies them, and their great length is accounted for liy the fact that one foot is allowed for every day of the commission.

At noon they came down and three hours later the relief, totalling KTI men. who had arrived by special train from. Wellington, was on board. There is no ceremony on these occasions. 'lhe moment the now men set loot oil hoard with their kitbags, hammocks. and chests, they are on duty. Any ship of the Royal Navy in any sea. is their home.

The majority of the newcomers are young and post-war recruits. A few were wearing service ribbons. Not the entire crews of the Veronica and Laburnum are being relieved.

Years ago commissions were for five years at the expiration of which the ship received an entirely now crow and new officers. This system had obvious disadvantages and now GO per cent, is the usual extent of the change at the end of a commission. This is the proportion in the present instance on the lower deck. Of the officers only three aro now leaving.

One gathers from the lower deck that most of the men who are to go home would gladly have transferred to the New Zealand cruisers on aceount of the much higher pay of the New Zealand Navy, hut they were not able to do so. Some may have bad other reasons for wanting to stay. RIVALRY FOR POSTS.

The officers, if _ not the lower deck, regard the New Zealand station as the best in the service, and there is a good deal of rivalry for tile limited number of positions the two sloops offer. New Zealand people are most hospitable and entertain them most heartily. In addition there is the lure of the South Pacific and an opportunity of seeing islands in a manner beyond the reach of the ordinary traveller.

Even the people of Auckland hardly realise the extent of the cruising done by the sloops and bow far oil’the beaten track they go. Take for instance the three cruises oT the Veronica since May. 1921. when the present Commission began. Her first cruise extended from May to October of that year. Much of the time she was among the Islands of the Fiji Group, but went also to Ocean Island, Rotumab, Butaritari. Tarawa. Wakaya, Savu. Ealizassa, Ruka liuka bay, -Moini roads. Vanna, M’Tialavau, Oneata, Kambara, Monha, Totoya, Nukualofa and Haapat. These are some of the places on the Veronica’* visiting list, and to roach them all she covered 7-1IK) miles. After a cruise round New Zealand, which represented over 2000 miles steaming, the Veronica set out on her second island cruise in June, 1 ( '2-b. This time she went direct to Samoa, and by the end of October bad covered nearly 9000 miles. Among the places visitted were Sydney Island and Hull Island. Atafu, Nnkumono. Penrliyti. Papeete, flora Bora. Rarotonga, Niue, Suva and Nukualofa. The third cruise, yhieli commenced in May. 1920, embraced the Gilbert Group. Three of the islands there. Aroria. Onotoa. and Nukunau bad not been visited by a warship since the Protectorate was proclaimed in the earlv nineties.

During their two and a half years’ commission the Veronica and Laburnum have each steamed 30.000 miles without mishap. The crews have enjoyed excellent Health.