A FLOATING COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1033, 24 January 1911, Page 5

A FLOATING COLLEGE.

TRAINING' SHIP-.MERSEY. IN ' , •I. ~ ' 'SYDNEY; ■■:••■

By TeleCTapß--Press Association—Oonyrteat. _ (Rec. January. 23, ld.lo p.m.) . •

■■:.,: -Sydney, January 23. : The training ship Mersey, of the White Star line, has-arrived, ' She was" delayed by thorough, weather....

The cadet ship Mersey,.which left England on. July 2S on.het third .voyage' to tho Conimbnw.ealth, was. acquired.by the White Star. Line for. the. training of young ■ and' suitable aspirants to a seafaring career.in.a .practical manner. The Mersey- has been -described as "do facto a college afloat," and .the' daily routine includes a careful scholastic training of the cadets, formerly the 1 opportunities for boys to serve" an' apprenticeship on sailing vessels were far greater than at the present time, owing to steamers having of late years so largely superseded the old-time wind-jammer. In consequence of the accredited fact of the great advantage of a training on a sailing vossel, some of-the large' steamship l companies have recently acquired-ships for. the training of officers of their service. It was with this object that the Mersey was selected by the White Star Line, and the two round voyages which have been completed have proved such an-incentive to applicants for cadetships that .only a small proportion of the candidates could be accepted for the present voyage. Tho complement on the Mersey aro of a very fine stamp,-and from the accounts given by those ■ who have already made one or two voyages, life on the ocean wave proves a happy and healthful experience.... The ,cadets number 60 on the "present voyage, there being also three captain cadets, ono for each watch. ■ • .The last-time the Jlersey was in England she was fitted with wireless telegraphy and submarine signalling apparatus. It will bd seen, therefore, that the ship is thus brought up to date in the latest scientific. 1 achievements for; the safeguarding of life and property at sea. On the present voyage it has been arranged for the Mersey to call at Adelaide and Melbourne en route to' Sydney, and Captain Corner is again in command.