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For four days Nelson played host to the Royal New Zealand Navy's largest ship, the cruiser Royalist, during the course of a short New Zealand cruise. Her visit was the first by a cruiser in 15 years. The slim, 512ft long vessel packed with secret equipment and 550 officers and men, was overrun at the weekend by thousands of spectators, who clambered up, down, around and through her. There was not, however, a tremendous amount to see, for the cruiser, like all modern ships of war, has disposed of much of the manual equipment in favour of the mechanical.

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Slowly the Royalist slips into her berth

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Accompanied by Lt/Cmdr A. K. Griffith (Saval Relations Officer, Nelson), and Lt/Cmdr Williams, Capt B. E. Turner (right) leaves to make his official call.

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High above the wharf the crew work to complete the berthing

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The gangplank was no sooner down than fresh bread was going aboard

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At the official visit of Capt Turner, we took this posed photo of the official party in the new board room of the Nelson Harbour Board. From left, Mr W. H. Parr (secretary, Harbour Board), Mr W. E. McCullough (town clerk), Major J. W. Beaumont (Area 9 Commander), Mr D. N. Strawbridge(Mayor), Capt R. Murphy (harbourmaster), and Lt. Cmdr Griffith; front, Captain Turner, Mr G. R. McKellar (chairman Harbour Board), and Lt. Cmdr Williams.

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As usual the Bofors came in for a great deal of attention from younger visitors.

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During visitors' hours, cameras have to be checked in at the gangplank.

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Attentive listeners

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Direction finding equipment was also given a thorough workout

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Ron Langley and Jim Senton are taken for a Sunday drive by the Farrell family (Ruby, Brian, Jeffrey and Jim).

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There were queues everywhere

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The Iron Duke Sea Scouts maintained their impressive record when their two crews easily beat crews from Royalist in a whaleboat race over a one-mile course.