H.—lo,

10

RETURN No. 1, showing Results of Storm-Warnings received at Bluff Harbour during June, 1879.

Enclosure 2. The Manager, Naval Training School, Kohimarama, to the Secretary, Marine Department. Sin, — Naval Training School, Kohimnrama, Ist July, 1879. I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the Hon. the Minister having charge of the administration of "The Naval Training Schools Act, 1874," the following, being the fifth annual report on the above-named institution :— As regards the health of the boys, lam again in a position to make a satisfactory report. The only serious case during the year was that of No. 137, George Williams, aged eleven years and six months, who died on the 29th November, from peritonitis. This is the only death which has occurred since the opening of the school in December, 1874. The report of Dr. Goldsbro', the medical officer of the institution, is attached hereto. The educational state of the boys is given in Table A, and shows a fair amount of progress. In seamanship the progress has been satisfactory, and will, I have no doubt, bo more so when the schooner at present building for tho school, and which will shortly be completed, is taken into use. The recent addition of a room in which to utilize the very beautiful model brigantine (constructed by Mr. George Ossian Anderson during the time he was attached to the school as a seaman instructor) will be a great assistance in training the boys. lam fortunate in at present having two thorough seamen as instructors. Table B gives the quantities of clothing made and other work done in the school. Mrs. Speight still continues to act as sewing instructress, and under her tuition the majority of the boys soon become very expert with the needle. Twenty-eight boys have been admitted and thirty-four discharged, leaving sixty-four now on the register. Of this number five are out on license. See Table D. Table C contains the record of visits made by clergymen for the purpose of giving the boys religious instruction. I desire to record my thanks to Mr. W. St. Clair Tisdall, who, at the request of his Lordship the Bishop of Auckland, has been good enough to hold divine service in the school on the first Sunday in each month ; and also to the Venerable Archdeacon Maunsell, to whose endeavours ou our behalf I believe this arrangement to be due. During the past twelve months the conduct of the boys generally has been more satisfactory than was shown in my last report, but the remarks therein made with reference to sections 9 and 10 of the Act still hold good, as will be seen by reference to Table E. In one instance a boy suffering from congenital cataract of both eyes to such an extent a3 to preclude his receiving instruction, was sent here under the provisions of section 10. • Instances of absconding have been much less numerous. Full particulars of these are given in Table L. The garden and farm work still continues to yield good results; and I would strongly recommend that the institution should be supplied with proper farming appliances, as producing potatoes, green feed, &c, by hand-labour, entails too much heavy work on the boys, and a very serious loss of time. As regards other branches of instruction, with reference to this subject I would advise that (as another instructor will be required as soon as the schooner is taken over from the builders) a person competent to undertake the duties of schoolmaster and gardener should be procured (very few seamen are capable of superintending the gardening, which is here a matter of great importance), and that the present holder of the schoolmaster's position, who is a master mariner, should take that of sub-manager or mate. He would be available to take charge of the vessel when I was unable to go in her, and to exercise a proper supervision over the seamen instructors at such times as I might be absent from the school. Table I gives the number of boys who have been apprenticed during the preceding twelve months, and the callings to which they have been indentured. A very extensive demand for boys for farm work continues to exist, and applications for them are frequent from those districts to which boys have been already sent; in some instances masters are so satisfied with the conduct of those they have obtained as to make applications for others. Table X gives the conduct of the boys who have been apprenticed from the school since its establishment, and is compiled from written reports received from the masters of the boys, except where otherwise shown. Looking to the antecedents of most of these boys, the results must, I think, be considered most satisfactory. The cost of victualling has been slightly over sixpence (6'lSSd.) per head per diem, which, as heretofore, includes fuel, soap, lights, seeds for farm and garden, and for ten weeks the cost of conveying the provisions from Auckland to the school. The remarks which I frequently hear made with reference to the appearance of the boys are to me sufficient evidence of their being well fed and cared for.

Result. Dato and Hour Received. Indicated Weather. Direction of Wind. Force of Wind. Remarks. 18th, 5 p.m. Bad weather probable any direction between N. and W. and S.W.; glass further fall, but rise again within twenty-four hours Bad weather probable any direction between N.W. and W. and S.; glass fall within twenty-four hours Bad weather probable any direction between N. and W. and S.W.; glass fall Bad weather probable any direction between S.E. and E. and N.; glass further fall Wrong Gale 19th, N.E., wind light, with thick rainy weather ; 20th, S. to S.S.E. gale. 23rd, 4.26 p.m, Good Fresh gale Barometer wrong ; 21st, wind backed to W.S.W., moderate; blew a fresh gale, with squalls, on 24th and 25th, but glass rose. Glass fell; good. 25th, 4 p.m. 26th, 4 p.m. Good Gale Good Fresh gale Barometer good; fresh gale from E. commenced on the evening of 27th, and continued with more or less violence till 30th; glass fell about a tenth and a-half. Thos. Thomson, Harbourmaster.