ABOARD THE AMOKURA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 535, 16 June 1909, Page 6

ABOARD THE AMOKURA.

THE PLUNKET MEDAL. ' PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY. The. Amokura 1 boys wero yesterday honoured with a visit i'roni his Exoelleucy the Governor (Lord Plunket), who, accompanied by Captain ■ Wakefield, tho Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister foi Marino), and the Hon. W. C. Carnoross, JI.L.iJ, was rowed over to the vessel iu tho ship's cutter, maimed by a youthful but sturdy crew ol oarsmen, for the purpose of presenting hit Excellency's medal, awarded to the "bost boj on the Amokura," ill worU.'aiid general con. duct. Tho honour of being the lirst to win the award fell to George Woods, of lvnipara, a lad of 1C years. Captain Hooper, R.N.R., received the viceregal party,- After the presentation, tho boys were addressed by his Excellency, who complimented tho winner 1 oil- his well-earned distinction—ho had been recommended by Iho whole ship's company., Since tho Amokura had teen commissioned, §1 boys had been enrolled, 43 discharged, 34 had entered the. mercantile marine, and three tho Royal Navy. Only on« has bean dismissed. : Tho results, generally, said his Excellency, pointed to good conduct and wiso management. In the course of, his remarks, his Exoellency mentioned that the vessel was overcrowded both as regarded accommodation for the officers and as to that provided for tho' boys. There should also bo a schoolmaster on board, as an. extension of tho privileges of education was in tho Ixst interests'of the boys. Something should be dono to overcome thes* defects, and a larger vessel might be commissioned, although tliat would entail greater ex. pense. Or they might follow tho example of the Home authorities, who had established .an' inland training college for tho boys, and provided a training ship for practical work. The matter was at present engaging the attention of the' Government.

Tho Minister for Marino (Hoii. J. A. Millar) said that it was a matter for congratulation that tho institution of a nucleus' for the mercantile marine and the Navy had boen so successfully organised. The Amokura, though efficient, wos not so suitable for tho purpoes as it might have been. The training schomo, suggested by his Excclloncy, was a capital idea. A larger vessel, for uso as a training depot, from which trainees could be drafted to tho Amokura, might bo expected in tho future. 'Blair Cullen- (of Gore) ran the winner so oloso that it had been decided that ho should also bo rewarded, and a medal, donated by a lady; was presented to him ■ ■ A vice-regal salute of 17 guns was fired from the gunboat • as his Excellency; was rowed ashore. The Plunket medal is handsomclv designed. The obverse- side of the medal bears the inscription; "N7-. Training Ship Amokura ,r i (lie face bears th<f royal arms in relief, and on tlio reverse sido is the name of t'vs recinient The medal was executed bj; Mr. F. Grady, of .Willis Street.