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Section V.—Personnel, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (New Zealand). 19. The total numbers borne on 31st March, 1939, were as follows: Officers, 78; ratings, 610. Approximately 52 per cent, of the executive officers and 73 per cent, of the ratings performed obligatory training in His Majesty's ships. Last year the percentages were 51 per cent, and 69 per cent, respectively. Voluntary training was carried out by 18 officers and 193 ratings. 20. The efficiency of officers and ratings of all divisions continues to be satisfactory. Training has been carried out in the cruisers, escort vessels, and H.M.S. " Wakalmra." 21. Tenders have now been called for the erection of New Divisional Headquarters at Dunedin, and work on this much-needed building will be commenced at an early date. 22. During Easter, 1938, an interdivisional tournament was held at Wellington, with satisfactory results. 23. The complement of Instructors allowed to each Volunteer Reserve was increased by one in order to provide for more intensive training. 24. Provision had also been made for the repayment of travelling-expenses incurred by reservists in attending drills and for the payment of a training grant tor efficiency to ratings who attend a specified number of drills and perform the prescribed sea training. Section VI. —Proceedings of Cruisers of the New Zealand Naval Forces. H.M.S. " Achilles." 25. On Ist April, 1938, H.M.S. " Achilles" arrived at Wellington. The ship's company was employed on a musketry course at Trentham Camp. On 14th April the cable of the ship was fouled by the Union Steam Ship Co.'s ship " Rangatira " during a gale and all the securing wires were parted, so that she drifted ashore on the mudbank outside the boat harbour. The ship was refloated by 0100 on 15th April. Fortunately, she sustained little damage. 26. With H.M.S. "Leander" in company, the ship left Wellington for Hauraki Gulf on 19th April and carried out a programme of exercises there from 21st to 28th April. She then proceeded to Devonport and gave Easter leave to the ship's company. 27. On Bth June Commodore I. G. Glennie succeeded to the command of the Squadron and hoisted his broad pendant in H.M.S. " Achilles." 28. On 17th June the ship sailed from Auckland to visit Nukualofa, Vavau, Pago Pago, Funafuti, Niutao, Nanumea, Rotuma, Lautoka, and Suva. Owing to an outbreak of rubella on board, the ship was placed in quarantine at Pago Pago. Subsequently a case of measles was diagnosed, and the ship was ordered to return to Auckland on 15th July. 29. The annual refit of the ship was undertaken at the end of July. Having completed her refit, she sailed on 17th September for Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Wellington. 30. On 2nd December the ship was ordered to England to exchange her Royal Navy personnel, and the command of the Squadron was transferred to Commodore J. W. Rivett-Carnac, D.S.C., who hoisted his broad pendant in H.M.S. " Leander" at Suva on Bth December. 31. H.M.S. " Achilles" left Suva on Bth December, called at Papeete, Balboa, and Jamaica, and arrived at Portsmouth, England, on 24th January, 1939. 32. On 27th January, 1939, she received the balance of her crew from the Royal Navy, and left from Portsmouth on 21st February, 1939, for Gibraltar. She was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet for working-up practices until 20th March, when she sailed for New Zealand via Malta, Port Said, Ismailia, Aden, Colombo, and Singapore. She is expected at Auckland on Bth May, 1939. H.M.S. " Leander." 33. On Ist April, 1938, H.M.S. " Leander" was at Wellington completing the annual musketry course. She sailed on 4th April for Nelson and Marlborough Sounds, and returned to Wellington on 13th April. On 19th April, in company with H.M.S. " Achilles," she sailed for Hauraki Gulf. She carried out exercises from 21st to 28th April, and then proceeded to Auckland to give Easter leave to her ship's company. On arrival she was taken in hand for annual refit. 34. The ship visited Russell from 12th to 22nd July, and then left Auckland for Lyttelton, Dunedin, Nelson, and Picton on 6th August, returning on 7th September. 35. During the emergency of the last week in September, 1938, H.M.S. " Leander" was docked and stored for service. Two programmes of exercises were carried out in Hauraki Gulf. 36. Having embarked the New Zealand Chiefs of the Staff the ship sailed for Suva and other Pacific Ocean islands on 7th November, 1938. She returned to Auckland on 12th December, when normal Christmas leave was given. 37. H.M.S. " Leander" became the flagship of the Squadron on Bth December, when Commodore J. W. Rivett-Carnac, D.S.C., assumed command, vice Commodore I. G. Glennie. 38. During the period 12th December to 30th March the ship was in hand for her biennial refit at Devonport and was docked.

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