H.--5

H.M.S. " Laburnum " with a force of Fijian Police, the situation being quiet, the armed guard was re-embarked and the ship proceeded to Auckland, arriving on the 15th February, 1926. Commander C. B. Brooke, R.N., assumed command of H.M.S. " Laburnum " on the 6th October, 1925, in succession to Commander S. K. Smyth, R.N., who returned to England. H.M.S. " Veronica " left Auckland on the 11th June, 1925. During her cruise she visited Pago Pago, Apia, Hull Island, Sydney Island, Atafu, Nukuneue, Fakaofu, Murea, Bora Bora, Papeete, Rarotonga, Niue, Niuafou, Suva, Wakaya, and Levuka, returning on the 4th November. Both sloops have undergone a refit while at Auckland. V. R.F.A. "Nucula." The R.F.A. " Nucula " has made three voyages to California to obtain oil fuel for H.M. ships and for filling the first tank erected at Auckland ; each voyage occupied approximately two months. She has attended on H.M. ships as necessary. The engagement of the master, who was transferred with the ship by the Imperial Government, having expired in November, 1925, the vacancy was filled locally. It is proposed to relieve other officers in the same way when their engagements are at an end. VI. Visits of Warships to the Dominions. During August, 1925, the United States Fleet visited ports of the Dominion, remaining about fourteen days in New Zealand waters. This powerful fleet was making a cruise around the Pacific Ocean, and, after visits to Australian and other ports, reached the Dominion on the 11th August. The fleet was under the command of Admiral R. E. Coontz, and consisted of twelve battleships, four cruisers, twenty-seven destroyers, and twelve auxiliaries. The battleships visited Auckland and Wellington only, the smaller craft visiting Lyttelton and Dunedin before proceeding to Wellington to join up with the Flag of the Commander-in-Chief. The divisions from Wellington and Auckland met in the vicinity of the latter port on the 26th August and proceeded north on the homeward voyage. The French sloop " Cassiopee " arrived at Dunedin from Australia on the 24th January, 1926, and, after visits to Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland, sailed on the 2nd March for Noumea. On the 18th February, 1926, the Japanese training-ship " Iwate " arrived at Wellington from Australia, and stayed a few days at that port and at Auckland prior to sailing for Japan on the 3rd March. During February and March an Australian Squadron consisting of H.M.A.S. " Sydney," H.M.A.S. " Adelaide," and H.M.S. " Delhi " visited the Dominion, being under the command of Commodore T. E. Wardle, D.5.0., R.N. These ships in the first place visited Dunedin and Lyttelton, spent a few days at Wellington, and then proceeded to the Hauraki Gulf, where they arrived on the Bth March. Combined exercises of great value to both the Australian and New Zealand ships were carried out for a period of" ten days, H.M. ships " Dunedin " and " Diomede " taking part. It is of the utmost importance that combined exercises of this nature shall take place at frequent intervals, as it enables considerable knowledge to be obtained on tactical and other problems. After the conclusion of the exercises the Australian ships visited Auckland from the 17th to the 24th March, when they sailed for Australia. VII. Recruiting for the Seagoing Forces. The following table shows the numbers finally entered during the period Ist April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926 :—

•2—H. 5.

3

n - , , n . , . , J' Ordinary , Artificers and Cooks and Other , , Regimental D 1S tnot. 'Seamenand Stokers. Axaaum , Stewards . Ratings. TotaL Auckland .... 10 7 3 1 .. 21 Paeroa .. .. 5 1 .. .. .. 6 Whangarei .. .. 3 1 .. .. .. 4 Hamilton .. .. 2 1 .. .. 3 Wellington .... 6 3 1 .. 1 11 Palmerston North 4 7 .. .. 1 12 Napier .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. 2 Hawera .. ..[4 1 .. .. .. 5 Nelson .. .. i Christchurch .. [-• 4 4 .. .. .. 8 Dunedin 1 2 .. .. .. 3 Invercargill .. . .. 1 % .. .. .. 3 Totals .. 42 29 4 1 2 78