FAREWELL TO WARSHIPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 834, 30 November 1929, Page 9

FAREWELL TO WARSHIPS

GOVERNOR-GENERAL SAYS GOOD-BYE PARADE AND MARCH PAST All the traditional discipline, fitness and trim of the British Navy was viewed this morning in the parade and march past of officers and men of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy on the occasion of the Governor-General. Sir Charles Fergusson's, visit of inspection to the warships in port and the ships’ companies.

YY'ELCOMED by Commodore G. ’ Blake, D. 5.0., Commander Nelson Clover and Commander Jeffries, the Governor-General arrived Rt tho dock launch steps in one of the cruiser’s pinnaces and immediately proceeded to the parade ground to inspect the officers and men of the warships Veronica, Laburnum and Philomel. "This visit is really to bid you all farewell and to wish you the best of luck in the performing of your future duties, be they in New Zealand or abroad." said the Governor-General in addressing the assembly. “I am looking back to the day five years ago when I first visited your ships in Wellington. I then spoke to the ships' companies and I assured them that although they were then going to have a soldier at the head instead of a much-distinguished sailor such as Lord Jellicoe. I would do my best to see that the interests of the Navy would not suffer in any way. And I have certainly tried to see that, they have not suffered,” said Sir Charles. The Governor-General said he wished to congratulate the men for their fine appearance at the cenotaph on Thursday. He reminded them of what he had said on that occasion; that the cenotaph stood for those men who knew their duty and had the courage to do It. It would be difficult to find a better epitaph than that for the service of the Navy. “You are representing a service second to none and one that is all that is fine and honourable. You have personal responsibilities to keep up. The credit is in the hands of each man. Your duties here in New Zealand take you round the Islands an< it is all important that you should b< to those people just what they eipw£ the British to be.” From the parade ground the Governor-General was taken to H.M.S. Dunedin, anchored in the stream, where he also made an inspection of the officers and men. More than 400 officers and men filed past his Excellency as he stood at the salute on the quarterdeck previous to hie farewell, address. In replying to the Governor-Gen eral's address. Commodore Blake safd that his ships’ companies wished all possible happiness to Sir Charles, bin deeply regretted his early departure. He appreciated the honour of the Inspection. “The occasion is perhaps most fitting, for being St. Andrew’s Day, I hope that all our good wishes will be fully realised,” concluded the Commodore. As the Governor-General’s pinnace drew away from the side of the warship, the salute of Iff guns was given