TRAINING SHIPS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13756, 22 May 1908, Page 8

TRAINING SHIPS,

<>. Sevekal more or less notable sailing vessels have been placed under otter to the Union S.S. Co.—which recently purchased the Dartford— use as cadet ships. One of these is the well-known barque Loch Lomond, 1200 tons, now lying; in Hobson's Bay. Should this old vessel change hands the event would lie. of more than ordinary interest, because up to the present not a ship or barque built for the famed line to which the Loch Lomond belongs has ever been sold, the whole fleet, with tko exception of several lost at. sea having remained intact ever since its inception many years ago. Indeed, it is doubtful whether any other line of sailing ship.? in the world has hung together so closely as these vessels over such a prolonged period. Foreigners who for years past have been alert to secure British sailing ships would no doubt have eagerly snapped up Lech liners hud any been offered for sale, but the opportunity never presented itself. At the beginning of the present year eight or nine Loch liners were in port at Melbourne together, but they have all since departed, and now the Loch Lomond is the only representative of the fleet there. Her future mission has not in any case been decided upon, and meanwhile she lies moored off Port Mel- , bourne, alongside several other ■" wind-jam-mers," waiting for something to " turn up."