New Zealand Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4267, 23 November 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1874.

The Neio Zealand Gazette announced the other day, that the Hon. Mr. Reynolds had been appointed by the Governor to administer the Naval Training Schools Act, 1874, in terms of section 3 of that Act. No better appointment could be made, inasmuch as to Mr. Reynolds, as political head of the Customs department, belongs the credit of having placed it on the Statute Book. At the same time, it would be an omission on. our part for which there would be no excuse, did we not also mention the fact that the UnderSecretary for Customs, Mr. Seed, has taken the liveliest interest in the scheme for creating a mercantile marine in New Zealand, which should be worthy of the Colony, and contribute somewhat also towards maintaining the maritime supremacy of England. Having said this much by way of introduction, let us come now to a recital of what has been done under the Act, for it has not been allowed to remain a dead letter, like so many other anticipatory statutes enacted by our credulous Assembly. Indeed, if we except the Assurance and Annuities Act, which has so far been successfully worked, no other pioxe of social legislation has bf.en brought into effective operation. Well, Mr. Reynolds (accompanied by Mr. Seed,) visited Auckland, where he leased the old Melanesian Mission buildings and grounds at Kohimarama, from the trustees, on favorable terms. The mission schooner Southern Cross has also been purchased for the colony, and will bo brig-rigged, and used as -a sailing tender in connection with the Naval Training School. The object is, to enable the lads to learn the art of seamanship in a square-rigged vessel. Lieutenant G. B. J3bexon, 8.N., has been appointed manager of tho Kohimarama school, but the preliminary, organisation has been left to Commander Tii/ley, R.N., well known in connection with the Melanesian Mission, and whose scientific knowledge is only equalled by his practical skill as a navigator. Indeed, we

may say of our own knowledge, that Mr. j Tillby is quite an enthusiast in his pro- I fession. The Government has been fortunate in securing his active co-operation. On the other hand, Mr. Breton is an efficient officer. Ho is a colonist of i several years standing, and as first-lieu-tenant of the Iris, was well known on the Australian station ; later, he did good service to the colony during the war in the Waikato. ' So much for the gentlemen who have been entrusted with the organisation and management of the Naval Training School. It is intended also to appoint a boatswain, or instructor in seamanship, who shall also have charge of the Southern Cross while in harbor. At the shore establishment there will be a schoolmaster and gardener. Part of the discipline and training of the lads being given ashore, they will be employed in the garden attached to the school building, where sufficient vegetables may be grown for the use of the institution. Mr. TILLEY has been authorised to engage the staff; and contracts have been taken for the necessary repairs and fittings. He has also been instructed to make a start with about twenty boys, selected from the industrial schools in the neighborhood, an essential qualification being that none of them have been convicted of any crime. The law is specific on this.point. It is intended to make the New Zealand Naval Training School a model institution, in which destitute and, neglected children may receive a sound education, and be trained to a useful calling, and to which they can look back with pride in after life as their early home, where they received that care and instruction which otherwise would have been wanting to them. And here we may remark, that boys who are unfitted for a seafaring life may be apprenticed to other trades out of the school, the manager being constituted legal guardian ; and provision is made for compelling masters, in such cases, to act properly towards their apprentices. Indeed, the law appears to us to be exceedingly strict in its application to outapprentices. Kohimarama is admirably placed as the site for the main Naval Training School. It is situate on a sheltered bay in Hauraki Gulf, about four miles from Auckland city, with which it is connected by an excellent road landward, and is in close proximity to St. John's College. It was a favorite resort of the Maoris, who still own a large block of land close by. Until Bishop Patteson removed the headquarters of the Melanesian mission to Norfolk Island, for climatic _ reasons, Kohimarama was fully occupied, but latterly it has not been much used by the trustees. The lads in the Naval Training School will be taught to swim and manage a boat, as parts of their routine training. Having stated what has been already | done in the colony to give effect to the 1 Naval Training Schools Act, we proceed to notice what it is ' proposed to do to complete the arrangements under it. The Hon. Commissioner of Customs has sent a report on the subject to the Governor, detailing the steps already taken, and suggesting that application should be made to the Imperial Government for two men-of-war to be used as auxiliary training schools, one to be stationed at Wellington and one at Runodin, or rather at Port Chalmers. It is urged in this memorandum that owing to the peculiar circumstances of New Zealand, at least two ships will be requisite; and as the Admiralty promised New Zealand a better vessel than the Rosario, which has been given to South Australia, will be complied with, backed as it has been by Sir James Fergusson. Mr. Vogei., we may also add, will try his utmost, while in England, to secure two suitable vessels out of commission. And inasmuch as Mr. Disraeli said at the Mansion House recently, that the policy of the Government was to consolidate the colonies, the opportunity is favorable for such an application. Should two ships be given to the colony by the Imperial Government, it is proposed to keep the Southern Cross almost constantlj at sea, learning the boys practical seamanship. For example, fifty boys will be at Kohimarama ; of these twenty or thirty will be taken on a two or three months' cruise. The vessel will then run in to Port Nicholson, and transfer the boys to the training ship lying here, taking an equal number on board who, in turn, will be exchanged at Port Chalmers for a similar number from the training ship there. These lads, having made the requisite cruise, will be sent ashore at Kohimarama, and a fresh detachment taken on board. Thus, every boy in turn will have training at sea, on shore, and in the ships in harbor. They will learn everything to fit them for an honorable and successful career in life ; and should any of them show a desire for learning navigation, to fit them for the higher branches of the naval profession, they will be instructed in it. In this way, it is hoped that the mercantile marine of New Zealand may be built up with an efficient and well-conducted body of men, who otherwise might have grown up pests to society and to themselves. When we consider that the registered shipping of New Zealand, on the 30th June last, numbered 421 vessels, of 32,707 tons, the magnitude of the interest affected by the Naval Training School will be apparent. The sea coast of this country embraces about 2500 miles. It is indented with numerous bays, harbors, and safe anchorages in which vessels may shelter, and whore commerce will yet be prosecuted with success. Our forests supply the very best timber for ship-building purposes ; our soil produces abundant commodities of interchange, not to speak of its vast natural products of coal, iron, gold, copper, and hemp. And. to complete all, this country, so bountifully blessed by Nature with all that ia needed to build up a great maritime and commercial nation, lies in the direct line of traffic between the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and should gather to itself tho treasures of tho Pacific isles. We say, looking to the future of this country, and to tho well-being of its people, no more politic law ever was enacted than that under which the New Zealand Naval Training School has been established. Everything depends upon its management ; but, as we said at the outset, we have implicit confidence in the gentlemen to whom Mr. Reynolds has entrusted the practical working of the school.