The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 323, 1 October 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

In mentioning yesterday that the C6m- > missioner of Customs and Mr Seed were passing through Nelson on their 1 to Auckland for the purpose of !' making arrangements for initiating a Naval Training Sctiodl there,' we were reminded that we, bad hitherto omitted to notice the Act under which these ' schools are to ba established; and as their number is not to be limited, but : they may, as occasion requires, be called into existence in any part of the colony, ' a brief digest of it 1 ' mkf not be uninteresting to Nelson readers. ; Passing over the ~' first fe w : clauses ; which provide for the appointment of a Minister under whose;. control the! schools are to.be placed, the acquisition ' of lands, buildings, or ships for the purpose, the inspection of schools, _ccj, , j we come to thatr portion .of. the Act; ! which specifies the classes of children , to be detained io them. This we give ; verbatim: — "''V" ' '•'"•-[' ;'■•'■ -"' 1 '"■'•: r -•• // "Any person, may b/iug before a Resident Magistrate any boy apparently under the age of fourteen years and over tbe age of ten years that comes withia any, of the following descriptions, i namely,— That is found begging or receiving alms (whether .actually or under the pretext of selling or offering ; for sale anything), : or t)eirig .in : any : street or public place for, jbe purpose' of so begging or receiving alms. — j That is found wapderin^, and nothaving any horae or settled place of abode, or proper guardianship, or visible means of subsistence.— Tbat is found destitute, either being; an orphan or having a surviving parent who is undergoing penal servitude or imprison-, ment. — Tbat frequents the company of reputed thieves. The Resident Magistrate before whom a boy is brought ; as coming within one of those deacriptions, if satisfied oh' inquiry of that fact, and tbat it is expedient to deal with him under this Act, may order him to be sent to -'* Naval Training School. If the age of any boy is not known or 'proved, tb' the Magistrate, he fmjbjjr' froai the best information he can obtain determine the age of such boy; and! the estimated age so determined- .shalj, for the purposes of the Act;i be deeitfedi theiage of >tbe b^yjtill the contrary; is shown. ....'" I :** Where a boy apparently under the; age of fourteen years and over the age; of ten years is charged before a; Resident Magistrate . with an offence, punishable by imprisonment or a less punishment, but has not been convicted I of felony, and the boy ought in tho: opinion df the Resident" Magistrate! (regard being had to bis age and: to tho! circumstances of the case) to be deajt; with under lhis Act, the Magistrate' may order bim to be sent to a Naval Training School. " Where the parent, or step-parent, I or guardian of a boy apparently under the age of fourteen years and over the age oi ten_ years repreeeute to a Resident Magistrate that he is 'unable to control the boy, and that he desires that the boy be sent tp a Naval Training School under . this Act, such Magistrate, if satisfied on inquiry that it is expedient to deal with the boy under this Act, may order him to be sent to a Naval Training School." Io addition to those who may, be thus ['detained, it is further provided that if the parent or guardian of any boy who ia unable to maintain such boy or fta educate him in a manner to enable him to. earn his ,own living, voluntarily makes W request to the Minister that such boy may be Bent to one of the schools, the Minister may make an order for his admission f provided that no boy who has been convicted of felony or imprisoned for 7 &ny iess offence shall be admitted, .. For the management and discipline of the schools the Governor in Council iii empowered from time, to time -^0 make roles, wbich ebal!, among other tbiagsi , provide for the method of instruction and twining to be adopted' whether on •

Bho^pr,;'on x ßhip hoard, And shall prescribi'efho^ nud by whom, the ;boys; ; are tq^ b^jiostrn^ted; ralaot^sja to x »hei clot^lg'P^ d g»°gfiand^edlofe of tbisj manhjir otlvisit^tidnj by Ipr^nHf or Wehds^ir v n|iiater^ N v religion, &c. Boys may be apprenticed -.from the schools to the sea service, or if not fitted for that, or if they do not consent to go to sea, to some other | tr W o^.icalHrig. |PenaUies are gthea^ •'preslribefi foi Apprentices absdofldiog or misconducting themseives; persons 154??!°&._ a Pl»renticea to abscond or harboring them; persons "''llPfrealtng' their apprentices, &c. Boys refusing to conform to the rules, or escaping from school may he sent to the school, gaol for any t^rm not ! l&sSrth^tt seven days, and not more than one month, or may, if; the 'ResWegti^gi^trate, .before whom they are to Jbie brought, think fit, be ; wbipped fc; Apy , , bqjf. , who ,sh|U beguihy of, such grots m^conduct/aji td render it undesirable that be should remain in the school: may be expelled. Tbe.jpajrent. pf a boy detained ifl.a Naval Training School shall, if able to do co, contribute to his maintenance and training, thej-eia a sum' not; exceeding ten shillings per week. Uto boy wbo has attained the age of fifteen years _}hall be detained in any of these schools except willi his own consent in writing.