THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1882. A TRAINING SHIP.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2424, 12 January 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1882. A TRAINING SHIP.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital Board a resolution was passed that “ the Orphanage Committee be authorised to institute enquiries as to the possibility of obtaining a training ship for Lyttelton in connection with the Boys’ Orphanage there.” The idea is no doubt a good one, for the boys would then be able to gain much useful and practical knowledge in seamanship which might give a start in after life to such as had a liking for a seafaring life. With a smart officer placed over the training craft, not only would such boys gain an excellent start, but the boys who were not specially adapted for the sea would pick up much that was useful. It seems to be recognised in England that the preliminary education for a seafaring life is about the best training a boy can possibly have. The strict discipline, the way in which time is parcelled out, the hardy habits inculcated, all serve to show that a boy who has gone through the curriculum has gained much valuable knowledge. As is well known, the Prince of Wales placed his two eldest sons at & very early age on hoard the Britannia, and although possibly they are not both destined for a sea-faring life, yet the Prince paid a remarkable compliment to the training by acting as ho did. In Auckland there exists a training ship, but it is, wo believe, entirely given up to such boys as would with us be sent to Burnham. Whether it is wise to bring neglected and criminal children into such close quarters may ho a matter for doubt; but, at all events, the same objection cannot apply to the children from the Orphanage. The training ship would, we presume, bean adjunct to and not entirely supersede the establishment on shore. It would depend very much on the bent of a boys’ inclination as to whether he made a larger or smaller use of the ship. The Mayor of Sydenham at the Board’s meeting mentioned the fact that the British Government had presented the Government of New South Wales with a man-of-war. We could perhaps hardly expect the Home Government to bo as liberal in our behalf, for mon-of-war cost money, but the New Zealand Government might see

■what coaid bo done in the matter. A good sound vessel is all that is required. The disasters that hotel the Atalanta and Eurydice show that peculiar care should be taken in picking seaworthy ships for each service. A crew of youngsters need the best of crafts under them, for they would naturally he more liable to panics than more experienced seamen. However, all this might safely he left to the good judgment of the Government. The idea propounded by the Mayor of Sydenis a good one, and we trust to see it, ere long, take some practical form.