South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 21 September 1867, page 2


THE PROPOSED NAVAL TRAINING SHIP.

With ' one foot on sea and one on shore' the Government, we are afraid, will be a long while deciding as to the disposal of the homeless iuvenilea who now conirve'rate in

our streets, and occasionally pay a visit to the Police Magistrate. We have frequently recommended the hiring of a building for the purposes of a Reformatory at a con- ; veuieut distance from Adelaide ; but at the 1 same time have not objected to the suggestion for a training ship at thu Port; the object in both cases is the same — the opening of some industrial establishment for the reception of boys who are now liable to be sent to gaol on the commission of any petty offence. But before the Government decide upon d-.-vntiug all the juveniles of our streets to ! the sea it may be worth while to enquire ! iub-- the amount of success which the 1 Victorians have met with in a similar j undertaking ; for taking these colonies | as a whole, there is always some j one of them making experiments or , perpetrating blunders for the guidance of j the others. In the matter of the Victorian I training-ship we have now before us the j report of a Commission dated March G of the present year — a Commission appointed at the suggestion of the Legislative Assembly to enquire into the working of each trainingship, which was first opened in August, 1SG4. The opinions in this report as to the best mode of training, the cost of the system, &c, are exceedingly useful ; but before coming to these, there is another point which must be closely considered in this colony, where the number of juveniles that could be sent to a trainingship 13 comparatively limited. This point relates to the inexpediency of trying to make sailors of boys who have no aptitude for that kind of life; and it is all the more necessary to bear this matter in mind, as the President of the Marine Board gives as one of the reasons in favour of a nautica Reformatory that it would save the expense of teaching the boys different trades. No doubt this is true, and if all our deserted and offending juveniles were suited to the sea there could be no two opinions as to the excellence of a floating Reformatory when compared with an establishment on shore. But there must be great care exercised in this matter. The Victorian Commission say that they object to the way in which the system ha3 been carried out, on the ground that a great many of the boys have been sent to the ship without reference to their inclination for a seafaring life. ' On questioning the boys,' they say, 'we found that fortythree expressed a decided aversion to go to sea, but desired to follow various trades and occupations, such as carpenters, tailors, shoemakers, gardeners, and carters, all of which occupations, we would remark, boys are now or may be shortly taught at the Sunbury School, at about one-third of the cost under the system now in force on board the naval training ship. In all probability most of these forty-three boys if apprenticed to ships would take the earliest opportunity of leaving the sea to seek more congenial employment on shore, and thus their expensive nautical training would have been thrown away.'

Whilst this, as it will be seen, does not in uiy way tell agains- « training-ship for boys svho are suited to the sea, it shows the undesirabiliiy of establishing a Reformatory which shall provide only one kind of occupation for all the boys whom it may be necessary to take care of. For those who like it— for the embryo Nelsons who may be found sailing their boats in the gutters of our townsnothing could be better than a nautical school. But there may be ' -village Hanipdens,' 'mute inglorious Miltons,' and all kinds of undeveloped celebrities to be found amongst our precocious juveniles. Why, then, should the whole of them be doomed to the one occupation of going ' down to the sea in great ships!' To rectify this mistake as regards the Victorian training - ship, the Commission recommended that that institution should be retained as a branch of the Industrial Schools of the colony, that there should be a Board of Visitors to arrange and direct the course of instruction, and that the mode of training should be more in accordance with the duties of the merchant service than it had been. As regards the boys who are unwilling or unfitted to be sailors, the Commission recommend that they should be sent to the Industrial Schools ashore, which would reduce the number on board to about one hundred. These, say the Commission, would not require a larger staff than a master and a mate, both well versed in seamanship and discipline, a schoolmaster, a carpenter (to act also as storekeeper), a cook, and two seamen ; whilst the annual cost per head for the boys, including everything, should not be more than £31. Under this economical arrangement- it is recommended that the training-ship should be kept as an experiment for another year or two, by which tune the altered system of instruction may, it is thought, have made the boys more fitted for the merchant service than they have b*herto been. The great fault found by the Commission as to part management relates to the «cea«ve cost of the training-ship. Her

itting-up alone cost £4,4S7, and from June, lSt-'), when the first boys were received on mrd, down to April, 1S67, the expenditure : -n further fitting3 had been £1,434, making . i total of nearly £6,000. Then as to main- J tenance, the average cost of the boys during ; 18G6, when the number rose from 100 at the beginning of the year to 150 at the end, was i £72 23. Id. per head, and this was much mailer than the average of the previous ; dx months, when the number of boys was smaller. Altogether, then, the ontlay from August, 1864, to April, 1S67, ivas nearly £18,000, and this, too, was exclusive of the cost of the hulk, which had previously belonged to the Government. No ironder that upon these facts the report says the expenditure on outfit had been 'unnecessarily large' and 'the cost of maintenance excessive.' As to the teaching on board this ship, the Commission point out that the Imperial Sen-ice regulations had been adapted, and that those regulations were not adopted to the training of boys for the merchant service. Real seamanship, in fact, had been made subservient to the other branches of naval instruction. There had been too much gunnery and too b'ttle reefing, so that the bovs were ,not well prepared for apprenticeship in colonial vessels. From these facts, then, it will be seen that if we are to have a training-ship there must be some discrimination as to the boys who are placed on board, and that the management ind the course of instruction should be conlucted on a very different principle from that which has prevailed in Victoria. In any :ase the necessity for a Reformatory of some kind is so pressing that we hope the Government will decide on one or other of their several schemes without much more delay. Thk Railway Passes Again.— The' Government yesterday presented the lamentable spectacle in the House of Assembly of having to submit a resolution which they disapproved-of. They had previously spoken and voted 'on principle' against the granting of free railway passes to members of Parliament. But as the majority of the House had decided upon bestowing this privilege upon themselves the Ministry considered that it was their duty to eat the leek in the very humblest manner. They therefore moved, in accordance with the message from the Governor, that the free passes should be issued, though they protested all the time that they disapproved of them. There was a point, however, beyond which they could not go. They could* put the resolution on the Paper, but they could not divide upon the motion. How like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. They therefore rushed hastily from the House when a division was ca'.k-d for— all except Mr. Santo, who, as the mover of the resolution, was compelled to stop and drain the cup of bitterness to the dregs. He had to be the teller of the 'Ayes,' in fact, though his heart was with the 'Noes,' and his principles were with his colleagues, who had gone and left him in the lurch. .Such, then, are the memorable uvctitd which marked the lirst introduction of payment of members in the Parliament of .Smith Australia— t-vents which will not be forgotten when some of the members ask the voters for 'free passed,' including return tickets, at the next general election. Tue Landing ok the Dcke op Edinburgh.— We have authority for statins tlut no cli.intrc whatever is contemplated in the arrangements fui the Prince's landing, which will take place at Glfiielj; as already announced. THE PltlNCE'S AlMRTMEXTS AT UOVERSMEXT HuL'se.— By the courtesy of His Excellency the Uovernor-in-Chief we were allowed on Friday to visit the rooms which have been fitted up, and, for the most part, newly furnished, for the reception of ll.li.II. the Duke of Edinburgh. They comprise a sitting-room, bedroom, and drawing-room en sidle, the windows of the last opening on to the balcony above the southern eutrmice of the house. The appearance of the whole is exceedingly pleasing. Ihe carpets, furniture, piano, pictures, and decorations are handsome, and have betn selected with much taste. Un the sain-; lioor are two other latge bulrooms for any officers or friends by whom the Prince may be accompanied, and there are sev.ral other rooms ieady in event of their being required. Workmen an busily engaged below in improvements and additions to the ball aud supper rooms, the forirer of which has been supplemented by a large temporary building on the western side. The Town Hall Banquet.— 'We understand cards of invitation are being issued for this civic entertainment, aud that as many guests will be invited to meet H.H.H. the Duke of Edinburgh as the Hall will comfortably hold. Un this occasion it is expect'.d all will appear in full evening costume. The Heads of Departments, Ministry, Consul*, Military and Naval Officers, Volunteers, and gentlemen of the Civil Seivice will wear their respective uniforms. So personal expense will be spared by His Worship the Mayor to ensure the comfort of all who will be present, and to render this banquet in evciy sense worthy of the City over which it has been his pleasant duty to preside during the passing year. The i'ay of the banquet cannot be determined till afier the arrival of the Prina', but will be du'y notified then by adveitisement. Medals for the National Exhibition.— The Committee of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society have accepted Mr. Wendt's tender for gold and silver medals for the National Exhibition to be held during the Prince's visit. They will weigh one ounce each of pure metal, and be struck from a die to be made on purpose by Mr. Wendt. On the obverse they will have a coronet in the centre, encircled by the words, 'Presented by H.R.1L the Duke of Edinburgh, 1867;' and on the reverse the words 'South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society,' encircled by a wreath of vine, wheat, and olive intertwined. On the rim will be stamped the name of the receiver and of the exhibit for which it is awarded. The number of medals to be distributed is about 70 gold and 100 silver. Mr. J. Rankine, M^P.— At the Mount Baiker Ploughing Match, in course of responding to the toast of 'The Parliament,' which had been well received, Mr. J. Kankinc, member of the House of Assembly for the district, stated that it was not his intention to offer himself as a candidate at the next general election. Tenders for Public Wobks.—I correspondent writes as follows:— 'During the present scaicity of work it seems a pity that any unnecessary delay should take place in the acceptance of tenders for nublic works: that the tenders for limestone

ballast on the Eosewouhy and Forresters Railway were sent in three weeks ago, and that this work :loni would give employment to at least 50 men. If contiavts for such a simple matter as the supply of limestone, which one would think might b« decided on the day following that on which teuders were sent in, ar indefinitely delayed, those tendering are placed at a great disadvantage, as a work which may be profitable to the contractor in September and October may at the same price yield a losi when harv st operations have set in.' The Civil Sittings.— Mr. Justice Gwynne sat on Friday morning, September 20, to hear ths case of S.nith v. Bewes; and having intimated, when the plaintiffs witnesses had teen examined, that there was no evidence to go to the Jury, the trial waa adjourned at Mr. Inglcby's request till last in the list. The case of Lloyd v. District Council of Encounter Bay was continued before the Chief Justice, and resulted m a verdict for the plaintiff for £75, subject to Beveral questions of law to be decided on motion before the Full Court His Honor expressed his regret that the matter was not tried before the Local Court; in which case the legal points arising out of it might have bean afterwards decided by the Full Court, if necessary, in a much mote convenient and less expensive manner. The Court adjourned at 7 o'clock till Monday next at W. Last Dat of TERii.-The Full Court will sit this morning, it being the Last Day of Term, at 10 o'clock. The Port-road Tolls.— In consequence of the evasion of the tollbar at Queenstown, by a consider-able amount of the traffic passing along the back streets, the Central Road Board have decided on the erection of another gate at the Port boundary. The erection was commenced on Thursday afternoon ; but during the whole of Friday morning the heavy traffic on the road was effectually stopped by a trench across the centre of the road. Light vehicles were with difficulty enabled to pass along the sloping sides of the road ; but at noon there were about 30 loaded drays awaiting the filling up of the trench. Very great inconvenience, and in several instances great loss, was occasioned by this delay. Accident.— One of the seamen of the Ann, whilst engaged in scraping the top of the mainmast, fell upon the deck, owing to the breaking of an oar upon which he and another man were standing. He was very much bruUed, but Dr. Gething, who was in attendance, found that no bones were broken. Death by Dbowotnq at the Port.- On Friday afternoon some bop discovered the body of a man loating near the bridge, at the entrance to the Maclaren Basin. The police having been communicated with, brought the body on shore, when it was recognised as that of an elderly man named Edward Coote, who arrived from 3wan River on Wednesday evening in the Emily Smith, having worked his passage as cook. We understand he was seen the previous evening in a state of intoxication. An inquest will be held to-day.

The Cricket Match with the Galatea.— Most of our readers are aware that the Executive Committee had set down in their programme a cricket match to be played by a South Australian eleven with an eleven of H.M.S. Galatea and 50th Eegimcnt. The Executive Committee, however, declined to bear the expenses connected therewith, and in consequence the various Clubs to whom the arrangements had been confided unanimously | declined to act But we are glad to state that the great national game of England will not go unrepresented. TheSouih Australian Cricket Club has undertaken the task, and will find an eleven. The whole arrangement cf the match will be under their auspices, and promises to be a great success. While they have determined that the eleven shall consist of bona fide members of the South AustraHan Cricket Cibb, good cricketers from other Clubs will be invited to join in the eleven on qualifying themselves by becoming members of the South Australian Cricket Club. A meeting is advertised to be held at Lloyd's Coffee Uooms this (Saturdaj) evening, when an eleven will be nominated and arrangements made for piactice in the field. The ground will be that of the South Australian Cricket Ciub on the Jiorth Park Lands, aud every accommodation will le provided for spectators to enable them to view it to the greatest advantage, the day chosen being such as will enable the Duke of Edinburgh to be present. Miss Aitkkj's Fariwell Entertainment at the Port.— Our readers at the Port will observe that Miss Aitken is to give a farewell eutertainment there on Friday next A very attractive programme will be provided, in which the talented lady's own readings will-be interspersed with songs by Mr. J. W. Daniel and several amateurs. We understand that Miss Aitken has arranged to leave for Mel biurne by the Aldinga on Tuesday week; and as tiiis farewell visit is to be paid at the special request of many frumb, no doubt there will be a great demonstration in honour of it New Police Station, Mount Pleasant.— The (..'overnment are now erecting a Police Station at Mount Pleasant, that very nourishing township huving reached a point of progress in civilizitiou when such an institution becomes a necessity. x\dvantage was taken of the holiday on a;count of the ploughing rnat.h to lay the foundation-stone of this edifice with some little ceremony. About 5 o'clock, when the ploughing matches were over, a considerable number of persons assembled on the bite, which is at ihs end of the township nearest to Gunieraclia. Ihe design is a ueat one. and the building when finished will, in an architectural point of view, be an ornament to the town Ii is hoped that the Government will soon grant funds for the erection of a Com t-House on the adjoining site. The Police Station will cost a little o^er £1,000. Mr. G. Mclrose, J. P., consented to lay the foundation-stone. The proceedings began by Mr. J. Williams, sen., explaining the object of the building, and reading a document, of which the following is a copy :— 'This stone was laid by U. Melrxse, Esq., J.I'., on the seventeenth day of September, in the year of tmr Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and the thirtieth year cf the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria; His Excellency Sir Domiuick Daly, K.B..Governor-in Chief ; Ii. G.Thomas, Esq., Architect; W. 11. Abbott, E-q , Overseer of Works; Mr. J. Williams, sen., Cierk of Works; Messrs. Halls JCuttall, builders. Uwl save the Queen.' This document, with copies of the daily papers, was placed in a bottle and pus in a cavity under the foundiition-stone. Mr. Melrose- laid the stone with the usual formalities and in 'a workmanlike manner,' and then, having declared it to be properly laid, called for three cheers for the Queen, which were lusti'y given, with one cheer more for the 1 uke of Edinburgh. A similar coinp'iment was paid to Mr. Melrose. the contractors, and the - lerkof Works. Mr. Melrose then made a few brief remarks on the object which had brought them together. In the evening a dinner was provided at Lowe's Hotel in connection with the event, at which al-out:-0 persons v.ere present— Mr. Melrose, J. P., in the chair, and Mr. C. Glover in the vicechair. A capital dinner h iviug Leen discussed, a few toists were given and songs sung, aud the company dispersed before 10 o'clock. Willunua.— It will be seen by reference to our advetthfing columns that a brzair in connection with the Wesleyau Church is to be held in the oddfellows' Hall, Wiilunga, on Wednesday and Thursday next. Thej Kapunda Eeceition Committee.— The Kapunda Herald of the 20lh inst. says:— 'The following letter received by the Local Reception Committse in reply to a detailed statement forwarded to the Government, showing a total estimated cost atteadatit on reception of U.K.H. I'rince Alfred in Kapuudu of £5'Ja. and asking for a guarantee of one-third that amount evon should Kapunda not be visited, in older that the Committee might at once commence preparations in matters which could not well be delayed until the arrival of His Ptoyal Highness in the colony, appears to indicate the determination of the Government to confine the expenditure of the public funds as far as po^iule to Ai'elaide. Thousands of i omuls will be spent in Adelaide in jonnection witli the reception cf His Ko-al Highness, and yet £505 is denied to tiii.-, the metropolis of the North, to which many persons from up country will repair to participate in the fe.-tivities, who will nut be able to spate either the time cr funds to go down and witness the metropolitan ?lemnnstraticns. We strongly object to any extravagant outlay in the matter; but as it appeasto have been determined not to spare the funds in Adelaide, we consider that the various country towns should not be dealt with in too parsimonious a spirit. The following is the letter inferred to:— ' Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, September 17, ISC7. Sir— I have the honour by the Chief ?secretary's directions to inform you. in reply to your letter of the 10th iust, that the Government cannot comply with the lequeat of the Kapunda Local Reception Committee to have an allowance of i35 guaranteed to them to meet the expenses of His Koyal Uighness's reception. I»o money whatever can be voted for the Committee unless i he Duke of Edinburgh visits Kapuuda, aud even then not to the extent or for the purposes asked for. 1 have, &c, (). K. Kicl;ardson, UnderSecrerary. Mr. J. Elliott, Hon. Sec. P.eeepti ii Committee, Kapuniia.' At a meeting of the.Working Committee of the Local Reception Committee held on Thursday evening, it was resolved that a further application should be made to the Government to name some definite amount as the sum which will be placed at their disposal in the event )1 the Duke ot Edinburgh visiting Kapunda, the roply to the former application (which we give above) being deemed highly unsatisfactory. It was further resolved that unless the Committee were furnished with the necessary information prior to the arrival of the Duke ii would be useless foi them to endeavour tt* satisfactorily cairy out the purposes for which they were appointed, and that it would become their duly to call the General Committee togtther ar:d recommend an adjournment sine die. We might mention that this is the day on which, according to the Vnued Servici Gazette, the Galutea may be expected to arrive in lloldfast B.iy ; but we think it is very unlil:ely th .t she will put in an appearance before the expiry ol at least another 12 or 14 days.' Adelaide Local Court (Criminal). — On Friday, September 8', there were only twe prisoners for trial. R. Anderson, charged witti assaulting and beating Elizabeth Joyce, wai sentenced to be imprisoned for two calendar months; and Carl Pickcrt, charged with btealinj £2, moneys of Elizabeth May, widow, was ssntencec to imprisonment with hard labour for six cale'ndai months. Adelaide Police Court. — On Friday, Sep tember 20, two defendants, severally charged wit! having violently resisted the police, were subjectet to fines of 50s. each with costs, making th-penalty £3 19a. in one case, and £2 15s. in thi other. A defendant, charged with reckless driving had to pay 30s. Another defendant, charged witl the use of foul language towards a neighbour

was ordered to pay 39s. fine and costs, or to be imprisoned for a month in default of payment The other cases were of minor importance. Miners' Dinner at Reedy Creek.— On Saturday, 14th instant, which was pay-day at Reedy Creek Mine, a dinner was given to the men by Mr. J. B. Pascoe. The arrangements were superintended by Captain Polglase. The dinner was placed on the table in the spacious hall known as the depot, fitted up for the occasion. The Messrs. Pascoe, Captain Polglase, Dr. Bestick, and Mr. W. Miller were present. Nearly 80 men, including a few boys, besides the men's wives, who were in an adjoining apartment, did justice to a profuse supply of roast mutton, bread, plum-pudding, duffs, and beer. The guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After the feast a social gathering was held ; Mr. J. B. Pascoe in the chair. Sundry speeches were made, and Captain Polglase in renaming the mine proposed 'Success to the Great Wheal Offord Copper Mine.' He said he believed every man in the mine was at present doing well. He promised them liberal treatment, and referred to the advantages of a doctor and a club they had among them. He congratulated the gentlemen interested in the mine, the prospects of which he considered second to none in South Australia. They had cut within the last few days a course of ore in the bottom level, 18 inches wide, worth £150 a fathom. Mr. W. J. R. Pascoe, purser, briefly seconded. Dr. Bettick supported, and said from his long intercourse with miners he considered himself almost a Cornishman. He made propositions relative to a library and school, which were unanimously approved of. Mr. W. Miller also supported, and referred to the marked change that had taken place in affairs at the mine during the last three months, and the greater satisfaction that now prevailed among the men. The Chairman, in putting the toast, spoke of the prominence of mining in British enterprise, and the good it had done for South Australia. As the mine prospered the men's comfort would oe better attended to than it had been. The toast was drunk with three cheers. The health of Captain Pascoe was then drunk with 'For he's a jolly good fellow,' and three cheers. The captain returned thanks. The same compliment was paid to Captain Polglase, Mr. W. J. R. Pascoe, Dr. Bestick, aud Mr. John W. Pascoe. The health of Mr. Tommy Pascoe was enthusiastically proposed and drunk amid tremendous applause. He briefly thanked the men, and the doctor made a humorous speech on his behalf. The health of Mrs. Pascoe and the ladies of the family was drunk with cheers. Captain Pascoe, in responding, said they by the recent inclement weather had been prevented from complying with Captain Polglase's invitation to the dinner, but in return for his courtesy they intended to come up and give the men a tea. (Cheers.) Several songs were sung during the evening. Other toasts were 'The Miners,' 'The Smelters' (coupled with the name of Mr. Jenkins), 'The Wood-Carters,' 'The Cooks and Waiters,' and 'The Chairman.' The affair passed off very orderly, having lasted till about midnight— Correspondent §5 Horticultural and Floricultural Fociett'8 SH0W.~In our report of this Society's Exhibition, held in the Town Hall on Thursday, the prize for the best six dessert apples is so entered as to appear to have been gamed by Mr. £. C. Homeraham, instead of by Messrs. Giles & Pascoe, who were the real winners.