Back From Pacific

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1040, 2 August 1930, Page 16

Back From Pacific

H.M.S. DUNEDIN’S RETURN : Zealand Division Movements AFEYPj weeks’ cruise in the Pacific, with calls at Tonga, Fiji, the New Hebrides. New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, has just been concluded by the flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. H.M.S. Dunedin, which, returned to Auckland yesterday and berthed at Devonport. Next Thursday she will leave for Wellington on a three months’ coastal round. Two football matches were played at Nukualofa and another at Norfolk Island. The call at New Caledonia was made to return the visit of the French cruiser Tourville to Auckland last year.

LEAVING Auckland toward the end of June, the Dunedin proceeded :<tvst to Tonga. Commodore Geoffrey Blake, accompanied by Commander R. E. Jeffreys and other officers, officially visited Queen Salote. The cruiser remained at the island for five days, and an invitation to dinner on board was accepted by the queen, who saw ia> it that the ship’s company was treated with great hospitality during its stay. A well-trained Rugby team met a naval fifteen on two occasions. The Islanders won the first game and the Dunedin the second- Several picnics were arranged for the officers and men. GAMES AT SUVA The next call was at Suva, in Fiji, where Commodore Blake had expected i.o meet Sir A. G. Murchison Fletcher, .High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, who was. however, receiving medical attention in Sydney. During rhe week spent in Fiji the crew took Sart in athletic sports on shore. The ne weather which attended the whole cruise was particularly noticeable here. The Dunedin visited the New Hebridean port, Vila, and then went to Noumea, the French capital of New Caledonia. Sight-seeing and sport filled five happy days there. Entertainments and receptions were exchanged between ship and shore, the and officials showing great * cordiality toward their visitors. A •deer-hunting expedition was organised and 12 of the officers took part. It was very successful. Thm island was proud of its Soccer eleven, which, the residents said, had never been beaten. A match was arranged. The warship got together a team and a great game resulted in a draw, i It was a big day in the islanders’ year. Commodore Blake laid wreaths on irhe French war memorials at both Noumea and Vila. VISIT TO NORFOLK ISLAND On its return to New Zealand the COunedin made a brief call at Norfolk Island—necessarily brief because the island has no sheltered harbour. Another Rugby match was arranged, the chip’s band and the team being landed stj boats. The Dunedin fifteen was .not in the best of form and the Islanders won by six points to nil. The commodore and a number of officers 'lunched with Colonel A. J. Bennett, The Administrator- Mr. Stanley McCoy, who resides at Vila and is the grandson of a Bounty mutineer, accompanied the warship from the New Hebrides to Norfolk Island as the guest of the commodore- After leaving Norfolk Island the vessel met a south-easterly gale. Heavy seas and high wind continued until North Cape s reached. MISHAP TO LABURNUM Information obtained from the Dun«din verifies the report of the Labcurnum’s mishap. During a voyage Vavau, Tonga, to Pago Pago, the vessel encountered a south-easterly igale, and the fore-topmast was carried away. That was the extent of fche damage. Repairs have been

effected with the help of the American naval authorities. The Laburnum recently left Tahiti for Apia to take the Administrator of Samoa, Mr. S. S. Allen, to visit the Tokelau Group. There is a possibility, despite the reduction of the Government grant, that a party of New Zealand scientists will visit Niuafou for the total eclipse of the sun in October. Funds are now being sought by subscription. If enough money is obtained the party will proceed to Suva, whence it will be taken to Niuafou by the Laburnum. The vessel is due back in Auckland about the middle of October. Before that she has to visit Danger Island, Penrhyn Island, Moorea, Papeete, Raratonga. Apia. Niue Island, Hervye Island and Fiji. VERONICA RETURNING H.M.S. Veronica, which is at present in the New Hebrides, will leave for Auckland, by way of Suva, in a few days' time. She will arrive about the middle of the mouth and Com-

mander G. W. T. Robertson, whose term of New Zealand service is expiring, will go back to England. Commander H. L. Morgan will take over the Veroncia. Commander Morgan was second in command on the Dunedin last year. He will return from England shortly. On the Dunedin's three months' coastal cruise, to start next week, she will call first at Wellington, going from there to Lyttelton, Tlmaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill and the West Coast Sounds. The warship will not be able to visit either Westport or Greymouth. She will return to Wellington at the beginning of October, when the crew will then carry out its annual musketry course. On the way back to Auckland the Dunedin proposes to call at Nelson, New Plymouth and Napier. She is due here early in November.