H.—s.

Section VIII.—H.M.S. " Philomel." 54. H.M.S. ' Philomel" (Commander C. B. Tinley, R.N.) continues to act as training and depot ship at Devonport, Auckland. The ketch "Viking" was presented to the New Zealand Division by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. (now Sir Ernest) Davis, and has proved of great value £*2?n"L s^r P :f; e ,'r ,ng m HMS - " Ph " ,m " l " h * d «* Section IX.—H.M.S. " Wakakura." . 55 ' J-MA " Wakakura " (Lieutenant K. H. J. L. Phibbs, R.N.) has been continuously employed training the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. y em P xo y ea 56. The ship is in good condition, both as to her hull and machinery 57. Ihis ship was also employed for a fortnight on survey work required for the Post and Telegraph Department m connection with the laying of the new Cook Strait telephone cable. Section X,— R.F.A. " Nucula." 58. R.F.A " Nucula " has transported three full cargoes of oil from California during the vear January,^l93*7 8 have , been car ™d. out, the ship was docked in April, 1936, and 59. It has now been decided to terminate her charter from the Admiralty. The ship will then £ Told."" " 86 Unt DeW NaVal oU " tank at Devon P° rt completed. She will Section Xl,— Naval Base. 60. The usual periodical dockings and refits have been carried out during the year 61 The new agreement with the Auckland Harbour Board whereby the Naval Department took 2S D«etbtl im 1 ™ 8 9 H * Ti " d »« k d»» • 4.1, Call , lo P e " r)ook llas been lengthened, and work is proceeding with the renewal and extension of the wharves necessary for the maintenance of two « Leander "class cruisers. Work on the reconstruction of the Naval Base under the three-year plan is progressing satisfactorily The actual construction of some of the buildings has been delayed due to difficulties of delivery of steel Work tank 001 *™ 6 6 an area t0 b<3 reclaimed m Stanle y Bay for the erection of a 12,000 ton oilSection Xll.—Naval Armament Depot. 63. Good progress has been made with the construction of the new depot at Kauri Point r ma ß a zmes of the seventeen authorized are nearing completion, and it is anticipated that a part of the explosives now at Fort Takapuna will be removed to the new depot in July 1937 This will relieve the overcrowding of explosives at Fort Takapuna. K s ' The wharf and 10 ton electric crane at Kauri Point are now available for use, and progress, has been made m the excavation and laying of concrete bases for the remaining magazines. 66. Fire hydrants and fire-fighting equipment have been installed and tested. Section Xlll.—Visits of Foreign War Vessels. Wpw 6 J- The French sloops « Savorgnan de Brazza » and " Rigault de Genouilly " visited the following New Zealand ports : Savorgnan de Brazza "—Auckland, 26th May to 3rd June 1936 • Wellington sth to Bth June, 1936. " Rigault de Genouilly "-Auckland, 26th April to 7th'May, 1936. ' February to mt&kSa. ""* " ■"* " A ' M " ā ** Section XlV.—Drills, Exercises, and Training Afloat. 69. The normal programme of exercises and drills has been carried out, The most valuable exercise period during the year was the period from Ist May to 15th July, when HM S " Achilles " 0 2 °" s,uacl ™ n ' du "" s ,ie »«««'»»»f«. Hoi n,, t °i° e L fK "v P ro f ™ e exercises was arranged with the Royal Australian Navy during the visit of the Royal Australian aval Squadron who, on 31st March, 1937, were on passage to Wellington 71. Combined mine-sweeping exercises by the two Imperial escort vessels were earned out in To "i 1 "' " Alt "~ ™ 1 K«?«l "aval I have, &c., E. R. Drummond, Rear Admiral, First Naval Member.

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