H.—s.

2. I inspected H.M.S. " Philomel " and her personnel on the 26th-27th May, 1931, and found everything to my entire satisfaction. His Excellency the Governor-General honoured the ship and training establishment by a visit on the 29th May, 1931, and was pleased to remark on the general efficiency and excellent bearing of the ship's company. 3. The ship's company, training division, and Royal Marine detachment completed their annual musketry practices at Penrose Rifle Range in November, 1931, with satisfactory results. VII. H.M.S. " Wakakuba." H.M.S. Wakakura " (trawler), (Commissioned Gunner Thomas Ē. Brooker, Eoyal Navy) has been employed during the year almost exclusively on Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve training. 2. During April, 1931, the training of the Canterbury Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was completed from Lyttelton, five sections receiving each a week's seagoing instructions and experience before H.M.S. " Wakakura " sailed for Wellington. 3. Fiom the last week in April to the last week in June similar training was carried out from Wellington with the Wellington Division, six sections in all being embarked in rotation. 4. On passage from Wellington to Auckland on the 23rd—24th June very heavy weather was experienced, but the Commanding Officer reported that the vessel behaved remarkably well. 5. On arrival at Auckland the annual refit was carried out, this being followed by the training of the Auckland Division during the months of August, September, October, and November. Ten sections underwent instruction. 6. In the early part of December the ship co-operated in the sloops' gunnery practices by towing targets, and on completion carried out her six-monthly docking. 7. I inspected H.M.S. Wakakura on the 31st December and found everything entirely to my satisfaction. . . 8 - During the first quarter of 1932 the ship continued the training of the R.N.V.R. divisions by a visit to Dunedm, where six sections of the Otago Division were embarked in rotation, and subsequently to Lyttelton where, up to the date of completion of this report, two sections of the Canterbury Division have also received sea training. In the course of this instruction Akaroa was visited seven times Oamaru twice, Timaru once, and Port Levi once. 9. In February H.M.S. " Wakakura " co-operated with the sloops in the projected " Breeze " firmg which, owing to the parting of the tow between H.M.S. " Wakakura " and s.s. " Breeze," could not ultimately be carried out. 10. On the Ist March while on passage from Timaru to Akaroa the disabled launch " Mary Ann " was met with and given a tow to Akaroa. 11. On the concluding day of this report H.M.S. " Wakakura " was at Lyttelton. VIII. R.F.A. " Nucula." R.F.A. Nucula (Lieutenant Arthur W. Beardsall, R.N.R.) commissioned at Auckland on Ist April, 1931, and sailed three days later for San Francisco to carry thence a full load of oil fuel to Sydney, New South Wales, for the use of the Royal Australian Navy. R.F.A. " Nucula " returned to Auckland from Australia on 16th June and the ship was paid off on arrival. 2. The ship was docked on 24th June and recommissioned again on 13th July, under the command of the new Master (Mr. George A. Atwood), in order to fuel H.M.S. " Diomede " at Bora Bora, Society Islands, on 24th July. After H.M.S. " Diomede " had completed with oil, R.F.A. " Nucula " proceeded to San Francisco and embarked a full load of oil which was discharged into naval tanks at Auckland on Bth September. 3. Owing to the improved performance of " Nucula " when clean, it was decided to dry dock the vessel before proceeding on another voyage. The docking was carried out from the 15th to the 17th September, " Nucula " sailing again to San Francisco on undocking. On this trip a further full load of oil fuel was carried from America to Sydney on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy, and " Nucula finally returned to Auckland on 17th November and was paid off and placed out of commission the following day. 4. Since then the refit and Lloyd s survey of the ship has been proceeding and was completed at the end of the financial year ; this included a docking on 15th March, 1932. 5. The two cargoes of oil fuel for the Royal Australian Navy were supplied by arrangement with the Commonwealth Government, the cost and transport thereof being paid for by the Commonwealth Naval authorities. It is hoped that further opportunity for similar services may occur, thus saving the cost to the New Zealand Government of maintenance of " Nucula " during the' time she is so employed, and providing additional employment for New Zealand merchant seamen. IX. The Naval Base. . Tlle general appearance of the Base is very good, and reflects great credit on the Naval Officer m Charge, Commander Edward L. Berthon, D.S.C., Royal Navy. Many minor improvements have been effected. Two further figure-heads and a Maori cannon have been presented to the Base and have been erected in suitable positions. 2. No further steps have been taken as regards the building of the projected naval barracks to take the place of H.M.S. " Philomel," but, in view of the age and condition of H.M.S. " Philomel " the erection thereof cannot be postponed indefinitely. 3 A new torpedo warhead magazine has been completed at Fort Takapuna in order to comply with Admiralty requirements, and concrete tracks and rails between the laboratory, warhead magazine, and Q.F. magazine have been constructed.

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