NEW ZEALAND NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1930, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NAVY

WELLINGTON, September 4. A report compiled in an extremely formal .manner,;, covering in bare detail the activities of the New Zealand naval forces, was presented to-day. There were 380 ratings on the. active list who had been recruited in New Zealand; 280 of these were serving in ships of the New Zealand Division on the station, forty-five were undergoing training in England, and forty-six were serving in ships-ph the Imperial Navy in Home waters, awaiting the return of H.M.S. Diomede to New Zealand. The Volunteer Naval Reserve comprises 924 officers and men. Bare reference is made to the Samoan visit, of H.M.S. Dunedin in connection with the Mau disturbances last January. The Dunedin- arrived at Apia on Sunday, January 12, and a conference was immediately held on shore, the result of- which was that two seamen platpons and a Royal Marine platoon were landed. The seamen platoon's remained ashore' until the ‘ conclusion of operations on March 12, and the Royal Marine platoon remained after the departure of the Dunedin on March 13. During the .whole of this period the conduct of the 150 men on shore was excellent, and they all worked 1 under the most trying conditions, both night and day, with the most willing cheerfulness. On the whole, the health of the ship’s company was good, except for a large number of cases of septic bites and sunburn, which occurred amongst the men on shore, and several cases of influenza, catarrh and debility on hoard as a result of lack of exercise,- jio ,leave being possible'under the circumstances. The Dunedin sailed from Apia on Thursday, March 13, and carried out a full-power trial on the passage, attaining an average speed of 27.7 knots after ten months out of dock.