New Home For R.N.V.R. is Like Land “Warship”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 10

New Home For R.N.V.R. is Like Land “Warship”

Modern Quarters at St. Mary’s Bay Base TO BE OPENED ON SATURDAY .is much like a warship as anything on Zand could he. That is the chief impression gained by a visit to the new training base of the Auckland Division of the Royal Hava! Volunteer reserve at St. Mary's Bay. fT'HE fully-equipped liome for tlie "*■ training of Auckland lads who wish to follow the call of the Navy in preference to the Dominion's compulsory military training system is to be opened on Saturday afternoon next by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson. The base, which is situated at the foot of Jacob's Ladder, on the brink of the peaceful waters of St. Mary’s Bay, was a hive of industry this morning with workmen busy putting the finishing touches to the interior of the hall, in preparation for Saturday’s big day.

The new base has been built with the grant of £3,500 made by the New Zealand Naval Board, and Auckland will no longer see its Royal Naval Reserve quartered in the heart of a big city. The central hall itself is a commodious, well-fitted room, SOft by 40ft. and will be used for general training purposes. Opening from it are the quarters for the officers and men, rooms for the commanding officer, the chief petty officer and the paymaster. There is also a lecture room, a ward room, a club room, a sick bay, paymaster’s stores and last —but not least —a galley. TWO PHILOMEL GUNS

The chief feature of the equipment, however, is the two four-inch semiautomatic guns now in the process of installation on the seaward side of the “ship.” These weapons come from the Philomel, as also does the standard compass. It is hoped that, at a later date, similar facilities will be provided for torpedo instruction. From the flagpole at the head of the big hall flutters the white ensign, a much-appreciated gift to the R.N.V.R. by the ladies of the Auckland branch of the Navy League.

On the north of the platform which runs halfway round the building are fitted standard naval davits for handling the whale boat now in course of construction at Charles Bailey and Son’s yards. It is almost completed, and the building of another one is contemplated. The platform, which resembles the deck of a ship, also carries a mast with five sets of signal halyards, and a morse signalling lamp.

There is also a raised platform where mechanical -semaphore signalling apparatus is to be installed, and from which trainees will be taught how to heave the lead and take soundings. The Auckland division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was the first of its kind to be established in New Zealand, and the opening of its new home on Saturday will be a redletter day in its history. When it was founded by Captain J. R. Middleton in 1925, just four years ago, there was only one company of 60 lads. Today there are three, numbering over ISO, on the active list. Divisions have since also been formed in Otago, Canterbury and Wellington, and Captain Middleton is now New Zealand Director of Naval Reserves.

One of the reasons why the reserve was established was that in any emergency, crews for minesweepers, mine-layers, coastal patrol boats and gun crews for armed merchantmen, could be provided at the shortest possible notice. The two four-inch guns now installed at St. Mary’s Bay could be lifted out and placed on a mer chantman or mine-layer if ever necessity arose, and along with them could go gun crews proficient in -working the weapons. When a lad joins the reserve, he does so of his own free will, but he must keep his undertaking to carry out 36 evening and six half-day parades during the year, as well as spending one week at sea. Rifle and field exercises play a small part in the training, but only for disciplinary purposes. The young sailors are taught knotting and splicing, boat pulling and sailing, seamanship, four-inch and Lewis gun work, coastal navigation, compass operation, lead line, steering, signalling and the customs and traditions of the sen ice to which they belong. SEEING THE WORLD

On the top of it they have a good chance of seeing the world on one or other of the light cruisers on the New Zealand station. Early next month three of them are leaving on the warships for Australia. Other of the trainees have been away on cruises among the Pacific Islands for as long as two months. The reservists are parading for Saturday’s opening ceremony at 1.40 p.m. Commodore G. T. C. P. Swabey, officer commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, will arrive at 2 p.m., and the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, at 2.30. The White Ensign will be flown from the masthead for the first time.

Captain J. R. Middleton, D. 5.0., R.N.V.R., Director of Naval Reserves, will be present, as well as several officers from the vessels at present on the New Zealand station. Commander F. A. Hull is the commanding officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in Auckland, and Lieutenant-Commander C. H. T. Palmer, R.N.V.R., divisional staff officer, is second in command.

The permanent staff instructor is Chief Petty Officer Watson, and the A, B and C Companies of the division are commanded by .Lieutenant-Com-manders R. P. Nisbet, C. V. Connolly and G. E. L. Alderton respectively.