THE TRAINING SHIP AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4373, 26 March 1875, Page 3

THE TRAINING SHIP AT AUCKLAND.

(From the Star, March 16.) No doubt many of our citizens wondered what schooner it was beating up the harbor this morning shortly before eleven o’clock. The blue ensign at her peak showed her to be a Government vessel,' and those who are at all conversant with our Auckland shipping were at no loss to distinguish the Southern Cross training schooner, Captain Breton, bound from Kohimararaa to Auckland. Knowing that important nows would be brought by such a cruiser, our reporter boarded her immediately she dropped anchor off the wharf, and being admitted at ance to audience with the captain, asked what was the news down East. Captain Breton carefully closed the cabin door, and having looked to see that no one was listening under the table, gave the following information :—“Pat Malloy is off again for the fourth time. He was flogged when he was brought back last week, but went away again the next morning, and has not been heard of since.” Having taken due notice of this and the captain’s report of passage, which set forth that the Southern Cross had left at 10.10 a.m., and after n dead beat against a strong westerly breeze, arrived at 11.20, our reporter went above and took stock of the crew, and the way they did their work. Eighteen boys, in white canvas clothes, moved briskly about the ship. Besides Captain Breton, only two full-grown men appeared on deck, and they only busied themselves over the heavy work. The youngsters, as the various orders were given, sang out cheerily—“ Ay ! ay ! sir,” and went about their work with a will. In a few minutes after the anchor was down, the mainsail was clewed up, and the staysail and jib stowed. The prettiest sight was when the order was given “Furl the topsail.” A dozen boys started up the rigging together, and there was a regular race who should be out first upon the

yard. No one would imagine these boys had only been on board a ship for a few weeks. No sign of fear, no hesitation here. Theyounkers run along the foot-ropes as though they were bn terra firma, and the work is done rapidly and well. In three minutes from the order being given the gaskets are fastened, and the lads descend. Then there are ropes to be hauled taut, loose ropes coiled, and the 1001 little fixings which a captain always finds to be done when he brings up, to make his vessel look shipshape to visitors. All these are attended to ■with promptness. A stiff breeze was blowing from the west, but Captain Breton reported that the boys had worked the vessel well, and indeed this could be told from her shaping on her way up. Considering that this is only the second time the boys have had the schooner under sail, Captain Breton must he congratnlated on his success .with his charges. The* majority of the boys show decided liking for their newly adopted profession. They look clean and healthy, and their chubby features are very different from the pinched noses and cheeks we have seen in the Police Court, belonging to the waifs and strays of the city. The hoys do not sleep on board yet, but have their quarters at the ICohiraarama school. They are brought up entirely for the mercantile marine, and have no instruction in gunnery or naval warfare. To create some emulation among the boys, Captain Breton has introduced the system of .monitors, which will no doubt be extended with the increase of numbers in the school. At present there is only one monitor, a smart little lad named Morrow, who appears fully sensible of the responsibility which attaches to him. When the boat (of which he always takes the stroke-oar) comes ashore with the skipper, he is left in charge. He takes out the novices and gives them lessons in rowing, and on other occasions fills the office of the captain’s representative. It certainly appears strange that the numbers are not larger than they are. Prom the way in which Mr. Beckham was enjoined by the Government not to send any more boys there without special instructions, one would have thought that the school was going to he rushed, but here are some mouths passed and only nineteen out of sixty enrolled.