THE Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5343, 7 October 1874, Page 2

THE Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON URO. If I h*v« been extinguished, yet there rltt ▲ thouaad be»oom from the ip*rk I bon.

WEDNESDAY, OUTQBER 7, 1874.

To-day is to "bo celebrated as a holiday, oil account of its being the hundred and fifth anniversary of the day on which Captain Cook landed in New Zealand. That landing was simply n partial fulfilment of the mission of the British people. Just as they inhentod some of the spirit of the adventurous sea-Kings who came over from the I3altie with their blue-eyed legions, so have they bettered the example of their Scandinavian forefathers, and sailed to every part of the world, planting the race and tho language, the habits and the civilisation which characterise the sea-girt British isles. It is satisfactory to think that here at the Antipodes of these islands we do not belie our race, or forget our seafaring instincts. It is fitting at the present time, and while celebrating, howeror unobtrusively, the memory of the propitious day when tho great circumnavigator first set his foot on these shores, that the Government of this colony should be engaged in taking steps for extending our maritime interests, establishing a nursery lor seamen, and laying the foundation of a future prosperous mercantile marine. Tho Hon. Mr. .Reynolds, the Commissioner of Customs, accompanied by Mr. Seed, the permanent secretary for that department, arc now in Auckland for the purpose of making tho necessary preliminary arrangements for establishing the naval training school, for which an Act was passed last session of Parliament. Tho more carefully the provisions and intentions of this Act iiro considered, and the probable results computed, the more praiseworthy does the measure appear. Mr. .Reynolds deserves great credit for tho per aistence with, which ho has carried out this pet idea of his. For years ho has cherished the project, and his enthusiasm on the subject was smiled at by some, and the acheme viewed with incredulity by othors. Still, since he entered ollico, liu has kept this scheme in view, and it is one whirl), if properly worked, will bo productive of advantages to JVow Zealand that may not unfairly be classed with thoso which whall spring from the public works nmi immigration policy. Tho benefits muy be has apparent, and the period for their full fruition may be longer, but they will, in their way, be none the lo-.ii real, both in a mercantile poiutoi v'ww, and in tho light of producing higher and better bocial surroundings.

Some one In-, said iliuL 1 he country Inch spreads most canvns to t lie ocean bice;'" is that which will do nio-t good to itself and to tin? worUl. Haritmv nations have always been poworfu', have extended tlieir conquests, iiud have bi ought tho wealth of distant countries to tli-ii own shores. That has been essentially the history of Great Britain. Jler insular position and her long coast line together with the natural advonturous spirit of a coabt-dwelling peoplo conspired to render her p«r cvccllence the shipping country ot the world. She has betu the nursery for ruarincis { and her slaps sail every known .sea. Here in INenr Zealand our great coast line oilers ample opportunities, and points to the necessity of our cultivating a maritime population. ]Not a lmle of o-r intercommunication in tin* colony mast be done by means of tho .sea. Even when the railways of the present shall nave become the iron network of the future, Coolc Strait will require to be bridged by swilt steamers, and a large part of our trade and commerce must be carried on from port to port by means cf the great " highway." To provide the material for this mercantile marine, Mr. Eeynold'8 Naval Training School scheme has been embodied in an Act ; tho Missionary schooner ' Southern Cross ' and a portion ot the missionary lands and buildings at Kohimarama have been leased by tho Government from the Melauesian Missionary Society. This was a very prudent arrangement. There are ample buildmgs at Krohimsrarna for the purposes of housing, feeding, and teaching the con. tingent of lads. A very little outlay will Builice to render the buildings at present available in every way fitted tor sleepingrooms, school-room, and eating-room, while the land around will furnish a tupply of vegetables and dairy produce which relays of the youth can themselves help to rear during the time they are ashore. The ' Southern Cross,' when changed from a schooner to a brig rig, as we understand is contemplated, will be admirably adapted as a tender to any training hulk or hulks which it is hoped will be obtained from the Home Government for the purposes of the Acfe. Mr. lleynolds has been for some time in communication wich the Home authorities on this subject, and has made application for hulks which it is intended shall be placed, one in Auckland harbour, and another at Port Chalmers. The object of the Act is twofold. It is commercial and philanthropic. It seeks to create a supply of seamen acquainted with our coasts, properly trained in seafaring duties, as well as fairly educated, so as to place into their hands the means of still further increasing their knowledge and making themselves masters of practical navigation, if their ambition leads them in that direction. The philanthropy of the Bcheme aims at rescuing destitute or neglected boys, saving them from tho painful fate which too often befals such youths, educating and utilising them both for themselves and for their country. The first year s work will ncccsbaiily be a year of experiment. That it w ill be a Biiccess we do not in tho least doubt The method of management, as indicated by Air. .Reynolds, will give boys a thorough training ashoro and afloat, lilting them to be good and useful seamen. The error which lias hitherto nuuked the conduct of rnobt training ships — Lhat of keeping the boys on board the ships in the harbour — will be avoided hi/re. It is proposed to have one or two tenders, beginning with the eheaplylea^fd • Southern Cross,' in which boys will cruise for a few months, and there learn practical seaman-ship. They will change their localities ironi time to time. One relay will, after a cruise, go to Otigo, and remain there for some time ; aud youths at that port will then be put on board the tender, will undergo a like experience to their predecessors ; and for a season bo put ashore at Auckland or on board the training ship stationed there. It is arranged, too, th.it boys who, from constitution or otherwise, are not iittod for sea going life, shall be instructed in some trade, and apprenticed to mastei son shore, after receiving a rudimentary education at the naval schools If, in <hese degenerate days, when long cherished beliefs are being rudely shaken, we may venture to further idealise the notion of —

Tlio swe-t littlo chnrnb th it sits up aloft, Anil t.ilce* lmu of tlio life of 1'oor Jack, we should bo disposed to imagine the spirit of Captain Cook looking down benignly on the efforts which ure thus being made for creating a creditable company of young sailors, uhosc numbers ahull yearly increase in the land he first knew inhabited by savage tribes. Wo believe that this scheme, properly administered, as wo have no doubt it w\\l be, will produce a large amount of good. It will save many a young and neglected life from sorrow, ignorance, and crime ; and will help to make New Zealand the seedplot of well trained Australasian sailors-