H.—s

Section Vll.—Proceedings of the Escort Vessels and H.M.S. " Endeavour." 39. H.M.S. " Leith " was at Wellington on Ist April, 1938. She then visited Akaroa and Lyttelton, and sailed for Sydney on 2nd May, 1938. 40. She sailed from Sydney on 13th June and visited ports in the Tongan, Lau, and Fiji groups, followed by ports in the Society Islands, and Pago Pago. She returred to Auckland on 10th September, and has subsequently visited Napier, Waikokopu, Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Hicks Bay, and Port Fitzroy. 41. H.M.S. " Wellington " was in company with H.M.S. " Leith " at Akaroa in April, and sailed with her for Sydney. 42. She left Sydney on 13th June and visited ports in Fiji, the Line Islands, Ocean Island, and ports in the Gilbert and Ellice groups. She returned to Auckland on 9th September, 1938. 43. Subsequently she visited Gisborne, Lyttelton, and the west-coast sounds, and arrived at Auckland on 30th November to refit and dock. 44. Both ships were docked and stored for service, and carried out two programmes of exercises in the Hauraki Gulf during the last few weeks of September, 1938. 45. 11.M.5, " Wellington " carried out combined operations with Army units on 11th and 12th. February, 1939, and subsequently sailed from Auckland for Port Fitzroy, Russell, and Sydney. 46. Since 6th January, 1939, H.M.S. " Leith" has visited Timaru, Bluff, west-coast sounds, Lyttelton, and Russell. On 25th February both escort vessels arrived at Sydney to carry out exercises. 47. Captain L. C. P. Tudway, R.N., was relieved in command of H.M.S. " Leith" by Commander C. R. Waymouth on the 18th December, 1938. Commander G. N. IjoristonClarke, R.N., was relieved in command of H.M.S. " Wellington " by Commander R. E. Hyde-Smith, R.N., on 7th January, 1939. 48. H.M.S. " Endeavour " was employed continuously on survey work until 3rd June, when she returned to Auckland to refit and to enable her officers to draw the fair charts of the previous year's work. She resumed survey duties on 3rd October, 1938, and is now working in the vicinity of Bream Head. Details of her survey operations have been supplied to the Honourable the M'inister of Marine in the form of monthly reports. Section VIII.—H.M.S. " Philomel." 49. H.M.S. " Philomel" continues to act as training-ship at Devonport, Auckland. As it proved to be impossible for the time being to find a suitable site for a naval barracks to replace H.M.S. " Philomel," it has now been decided to reconstruct that ship for further service as accommodation ship and in recruit-training work. It has also been approved to equip a post-recruit-training school at Devonport, which will be staffed from the depot ship. The reconstruction will be undertaken as soon as practicable so that the rate of recruiting can be increased at an early date. The scheme involves the provision of certain new buildings before reconstruction work can be taken in hand. 50. During the year Captain 11. M. Barnes, R.N., was appointed as Captain in Charge and as Captain Superintendent of the Dockyard, in succession to Commander C. B. Tinley, 0.8. E., R.N., who reverted to the Royal Navy. Section IX.—H.M.S. " Wakakura." 51. H.M.S " Wakakura" has been continuously employed training the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves. Lieutenant K. H. J. L. Phibbs, R.N., who was in command of this ship, reverted to the Royal Navy during the year, and Lieutenant P. B. N. Lewis, R.N., was appointed as his relief. 52. The ship is in good condition both as to her hull and machinery. Section X. —R.F.A. " Nucttla." 53. R.F.A. " Nucula " has been laid up since sth July, 1937. She is being employed as a storage hulk for oil fuel. Section Xl.—Naval Dockyard and Dockyard Store. 54. The usual periodical dockings and refits have been carried out during the year. Good progress is being made with the reconstruction works. The last tier of side plating of a new oil-fuel tank is in place, and the laying of the new oil fuel pipe-line is in hand and is progressing satisfactorily. 55. Nearly all the new machinery has been delivered, and it is being transferred from temporary shops to the machine-shop recently completed. The electrical shop is well in hand. The Dockyard stores are now being cleared of machinery, and so it is possible to build up stores reserves more rapidly and to reorganize the staff. 56. Much roading and drainage work has been completed during the year. 57. As stated in paragraph 16, approval has been given for strengthening the professional staff. In view of the very specialized nature of the refit work, the new staff will be furnished from Admiralty resources.

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