ENGLISH NEWS BY THE HIMALAYA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 246, 25 February 1869, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS BY THE HIMALAYA.

The s.B. Himalaya, which left Point de Galle 20 days after the last English mail steamer, arrived in Melbourne on the 14th inst. Unfortunately, no Ceylon papers, containing the latest ftnglish telegrams, were preserved, so that her news is only to the I Sth December, or four days earlier than tbe last telegram via Suez. The following are a few of the chief items of intelligence contained in the papers brought by her : — MR CHILD ERS AND THE ADMIRALTY. The following account is given of the changes which Mr Childers proposes to introduce at the Admiralty. When Sir James Graham abolished the Navy Board he raised the number of the Board of Admiralty from five to six. He intended, as he told a committee of the House of Commons in 1861, that the junior lords of the Admiralty should be the eyes of the First Lord, con-

necting him with the several branches of the department. I He did not mean them to ad-yiinist^-iS^ir.ere to be the links that connected"^ the responsible head with the principal permanent officers of the Admiralty. Gradually . they, assumed administrative duties,, audi .0 this innovation he attributed the cumbrous-action and many shortcomings of the Admiralty. Mr Childers proposes to restore; the ancient number of the board, and to introduce the controller of Ml 3 navy into it, making him the second senior lord. The first senior lord will be, as now, a naval officer of hii{h rank, who, in conjunction with his chief, and on behalf of the board, will conduct the discipline and all tbat relates to the personnel of the navy. The materiel will in like manner be managed by the. controller in conjunction with his chief. The Controller will constitute the permanent element of the board, the supervision of the workshops requiring a permanent head. The first sea. lord will continue, as now, to.be the political confidant of the Minister, and .'. will change with every change of Ministry. By these means care will be taken to prevent au imperium in imperio, and to ; avoid a dual Government such as at present prevails in the army. Two junior lords are to be ap- < pointed, whose duties, will be twofold— to assist in the office the senior lords, and in Parliament to assist the chief. The junior sea lord will be a captain of the Royal navy, and will work together with the first sea lord. The second junior lord will be a civilian, and act in unison with the controller of tbe navy..