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1926. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND NAVAL FORCES. REPORT OF THE COMMODORE COMMANDING THE NEW ZEALAND STATION, FOR THE PERIOD 1st APRIL, 1925, TO 31st MARCH, 1926.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General.

REPORT, The Hon. the Minister of Defence. Sir, — H.M.S. " Dunedin," at Auckland, 10th May, 1926. I have the honour to submit the following report in regard to the Naval Forces of the Dominion, covering the period Ist April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926. I. Proceedings of H.M.S. "Dunedin." On the Ist April, 1925, H.M.S. " Dunedin,'' under the command of Acting-Captain the Hon. Guy Stopford, arrived at O'amaru from Patterson Inlet (Stewart Island). She then visited Timaru and Akaroa, arriving at Dunedin on the 16th April. At this poit- I assumed command on my return from the Singapore Conference. The " Dunedin " left Dunedin on the 27th April and proceeded to Wellington for ten days, then going to Auckland, where the ship was taken in hand for refit and docking. On the 17th June, 1925, the " Dunedin " sailed from Auckland for a cruise to the islands, calling at Nukualofa, Suva, and Lautoka. A period of fourteen days at Lautoka was fully occupied in carrying out various .gunnery and torpedo exercises. Owing to the arrival of the United States Fleet in New Zealand, the " Dunedin " returned to the Dominion at the end of July, and remained in Wellington until the 25th August; and, after a short visit to Auckland, she again sailed for the tropics on the 29th August. This portion of the cruise included visits to Sunday Island, Niue, Apia, Pago Pago, Bora Bora, Papeete, and Rarotonga, and the ship returned to Auckland on the 6th October, 1925. After a few days at Auckland the " Dunedin " proceeded to Wellington, where the annual rifle practice was carried out at the ranges at Trentham between the 16th October and the 12th November. As in previous years, the course proved of great value to both officers and men, and I appreciate deeply the privilege accorded to the Navy by the General Officer Commanding and military authorities in granting the use of Trentham Camp, and also for the admirable arrangements made for the comfort of the officers and men undergoing musketry training. The annual course is an event which is looked forward to with eagerness by all concerned.

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