THE AMOKURA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 3

THE AMOKURA.

HEPIA* TO CRITICISM. (By' Tclcsrapb.—Special Correspondent. 1 ! Auckland, March 29. The Government training ship Ainokura left to-day for the Kermadec Islands. The vessel has just come out of quarantine owing to tho outbreak of scarlatina among the boys. The live boys affected are making satisfactory progress in the Hospital, and Commander Hooper is now confident that the outbreak has been effectually stamped out. The Amokura took as passengers Messrs. Bell and Clark, who propose living at the Kermadecs. The vessel is expected to return to Auckland in about 12 days' time, and she will then proceed to Wellington. The live boys will be left behind in the Hospital until tho Amokura returns, while one of them will proceed to his home in Dunedm on a month's leave to recuperate. Allegations were recently made that the boys on the Amokura were being supplied with liquor, and that divine service was unknown on the vessel, but Commander Hooper informed a reporter that whilst the latter statement was true, "never a drop of grog comes on board the ship." There are some sixty boys on the Amokura, representing ten different sects, and therefore service on board was out of the question, but as the Amokura was generally in port on Sundays the boys were sent to their respective churches ashore. Smoking is also prohibited on tho Amokura, and everything, it is statefl, is done to bring the boys up under the best conditions.