LATE FIRE AT NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1500, 1 December 1874, Page 2

LATE FIRE AT NORTH SHORE.

THE GIRL'S CONFESSION.

We understand that the young girl (Cecilia Allen) now in custody on a charge of setting fire to the dwelling-house of Mr. Howard, on the Takapuna road, has made a confession, or part confession, this morning to the police. She has stated with some hesitancy that she set fire to the stable which was destroyed about a fortnight since. She intimates moreover that she set fire to the house which was destroyed on Friday last, and that she had attempted to fire other places in Auckland, but was prevented from carrying her diabolical plans into execution through the interference of neighbours. The girl appears to be about thirteen years of age ; but as she is small in stature, she may be a year or two older. She is very guarded in replies to the officers of the police, and is deficient eifcher in shrewdness or intelligence. She is a native of Auckland, and about eight months ago, lived with a person in Elliott-street, where she first began to exhibit her mischievous proclivities. It would seem, therefore, that, incendiarism is a kind of monomania with this girl, as she cannot assign any reason for her wilful misconduct, beyond that of seeing a blaze. The case will be heard before the Police Court on Monday next, when it is expected some curious revelations will be made, which may be of service to the phrenologist, and the friends of educational progress.

Shobtt's H* ing Saloon, three doors below the Greyhound First-class Attention, Civility and Cleanlipesa.

THE TKAININO SHIP ANDo^ AT KOHIMARAMA Cfio%

We have repeatedly referred to the t • . I ship and school at Kohimaramara ?? I commenced operations to-day. Six b' *^4 I this morning drafted to the train™" *e^ from the Industrial School by M r & J , 8% The removal of the boys was volant y' their part and in accordance with^a 0? expressed desire. Pome additional fact, T\ cerning the new institution are publioO^* 1 the Church Gazette to-day, which * reprint:—" The fitsfc Naval Training s v* 6 in New Zealand, at Kohimaramara, will ih °°l ' the good wishe3 of all who feel an'intei»a ' the ' Neglected and Destitute ChiHxen?,* whom it i 3 specially intended. gi nc ' |* visit of the Honourable the Commisaio Qer * the Secretary of Customs to Auckland tf buildings at the old Mission Station atRnV marama have been thoroughly repaired \ fitted up for the purposes of the SeWi accommodation has been provided for (60) boys, but it is intended to begin about twenty (20) from Auckland; the 2 batch being from the Howe Street Industa School of such boy 3as wish to be trait* for the sea. Tho full number will be g^ ally made up t.uni the different provinces «i ;he Colony as the institution gets into worl ing order. This it is- to be hoped will son be, for apparently much interest is ahewif and many enquiries have been madeabouti? One part of it will be found to differ som what from the received idea of a \J?\ Training School, in that it provides for ft! acquiring of buildings and grounds as Jn as vessels. Training ships are from theji large size stationary, and, to be complete i». quire small tenders in which to.gfre'^' boys actual sea training. In most cases this is not practicable, and boys are hired or sent oufc for short cruises in fishing vessels, 4 0 Such an institution as that at Kohimatanj will combine the advantages of a well-coj. ducted school, good play grounds, ]^ for agncultural purposes, and sea frontage and beach for learning to swim and boating, with the tender close afc-handfin. the practical part of seamanship, al^ go far to make the place very popu]^ tending to remove the feeling of restraint and confinement, necessarily felt by yo^ boys always cooped up in a ship, jf tender—the old Southern Cross— will |, rigged as a bri<;', and will have a spleu^ summer cruising ground within the Banij Tslanda, or for still shorter cruising, between Auckland and the Sandspit. As othei schools are established in the Southern ports, she will also be available to visit them, gsj take boys to the different schools tfol may require them. For the present the staff consists of a < manager, schoolmaster, cook, and sbipkeeper. A boatswain or instructor is on board, and others will be added as wanted. The main objectofthe institution is to rescue some of the neglected and destitute children from the life tint would otherwise be before them, and to endeavour to tura th m into what is so much wanted in a maritime country like thisgood seamen and respectable members of society. The boys are specially intended for this ; but for any who may not be fit for the sea or may dislike it, provision will no doubt be made for teaching other trades, and (as staled in the Act) for appieQfcicing them to such. This will bs, at Auckland, turning to a worthy account the buildings and the vessel so long used by the late Bishop Patteson f< r missionary work oi a different character."