SHIFTING THE BASE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 304, 20 June 1912, Page 3

SHIFTING THE BASE

j FOR WARSHIPS, j SORTING OUT ■ AUCKLAND SITES. Auckland, June 17. Captain Rolleston, R.N., captain in charge of the naval establishment in Sydney, arrived in Auckland this afternoon from Rotorua,' after a visit to the chief centres in the south in connection with Admiralty business. Captain Rolleston stated to .a Herald! representative that the separation of the squadrons, so far as New Zealand and Australia were concerned, would take place on April 1 next year. On that date the Commonwealth Government will take over the naval establishment in Sydney. ) fr,om the Admiralty, and Auckland will \ be the naval base for New Zealand for a ) portion of the China Squadron, which 1 will consist of two second'-class cruisers, 1 three destroyers, ?.nd two submarines. J The squadron, however, will be under ■ the supreme command of the Commander- | in-Chief on the China station. , I "I am here," said Captain Rolleston, j "to arrange for storing in connection with the New Zealand Squadron. Auckland will be tlie headquarters, and there J will probably be a storehouse established on the Admiralty reserve, near the Calliope Dock, for naval and victualling stores. Ammunition will probably be ■ stored in the Defepce Department's property, near the North Head. A coneiderable stock of coal, probably about 3000 tons, will be stored at Auckland, and also a small quantity of oil fuel and petrol. Sub-bases for fuel only will probably be .established at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin." Captain Rolleston explained that he had prepared! reports suggesting sites in the three southern centres, and would also prepare reports on the suggested sites in Auckland. The reports would., of course, have to be submitted to the Admiralty before being definitely approved. He pointed out that the Admiralty were already paying a subsidy to the Auckland Harbor Board for the right to J use the reserve at the Calliope Dock. | The fact that a naval squadron is to j be quartered in New Zealand is likely to I give a fillip to the oil industry in the • Dominion, as a quantity of oil fuel is used on several of the vessels of the squadron. Captain Rolleston said that the Admiralty were very anxious to get a guarantee supply of oil fuel and petrol in New Zealand. He had made enquiries with this object in view, but a sufficient supply could not be guaranteed at present. As soon, however, aa New Zealand is able to guarantee sufficient supplies, the Admiralty will be regular purchasers, provided'that the price is reasonable. In the meantime, oil would have to be imported to meet requirements. From enquiries which he had made, he thought it possible that in the near future the' Dominion would be able to guarantee a full supply of oil for Admiralty purposes. He stated that the cruisers each burn 300 tons of oil fuel per year, while 5000 gallons of petrol,each per year was consumed by the submarines. • Colonel Johnston, Director of Artillery in New Zealand, will arrive from Wellington to-morrow morning by cho Main Trunk express. In company with Captain Rolleston, he will visit the proposed site for the ammunition stores at North! Head. Captain Rolleston will return to Sydney next Monday.