AUSTRALIAN SHIPS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 409, 16 April 1937, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SHIPS.

Squadron at Auckland. Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, April 15. Very little formality marked ‘ths arrival '/.is afternoon of the Canberra, the Australian flagship of Rear-Ad-miral Lane-Poole. Salutes had been exchanged when lhe Australian squadron arrive d at Wellington and it was no’ necetsary for any to be fired today. As the Canberra passed the Devonport base guards were mounted on the quarterdeck of the Achilles and on the training jetty, and the band of .the Archilles played the admiral's s.alu.‘e. h© remaining ships of the Australian squadron will arrive at Auckland to-morrow morning, af er several days of exercises in the Hauraki Gulf. Tly> Achill'.s, flagship of Rear-Ad-miral the Hon E. R. Drummond, returned to Auckland thiet morning and berthed at the Devonport naval base. She was followed during the. afternoon by the Imperial sloops Letth and Wellington, the torn-er having a large bat-tie practice target in tow The ships of the New” Zealand division were favoured with ideal weather for their exercises, and lhe entire programme was carried out moq*. suecesstully. No high angle firing was held, but no Wednesday night the Achilles carried ou't a successful calibre night shoot, firing star shells as well as her full armame(n|t. of 6isn. guns. The Achilles will qon'inue her programme of exercises In the gulf aft-.r th© departure of 'the Australian squadron next v'.ek and will return to port finally on April 28. The next task that will face th© ships of the New Zealand division will be that of preparing for the annual island cruises The Wellington will leave Auckland on May 4 in order to be present at Suva for Coronation Day ceremonies on May 12. The Leith will leave on June 7 and th© Achilles on June 12.’ Detailed Pineries for ‘the three ships have hat yet been announced.