1.—9.

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

NAVAL TRAINING VESSELS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH THE MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX.

Report brought up sth September, 1882, and ordered to he printed.

ORDEBS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Souse of Representatives. Wednesday, the 12th Day of Jt/ly, 1882. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider and report upon the best means of giving effect to the expressed wishes of the House in favour of naval training vessels. The Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report in one month. The members of the Committee to consist of Mr. Daniel, Mr. Turnbull, Mr. Allright, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Swanßon, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Joyce, Hon. Mr. Dick, and the mover ; three members to form a quorum." — (Mr. Sheehan.) Feiday, the 28th Day op July, 1882. Ordered, " That the Naval Training Vessels Committee have leave to postpone the bringing up of their report for a week." — (Mr. Sheehan.)

Monday, the 21st Day op Attgust, 1882. Ordered, " That leave be given to the Naval Training Vessels Committee to postpone making their report for one week."— (Mr. Sheehan.)

REPORT.

Your Committee have given careful consideration to the matters submitted to them, and, having examined a number of witnesses, have now the honor to report as follows :— 1. The number of children who, by reason of the neglect or default of their parents, or of some criminal act of their own, are virtually handed over to the custody of the State, is steadily increasing with the increase of population. 2. While some of the witnesses examined by your Committee favour the establishment of training schools on board a moored vessel or vessels, all agree that it will be necessary to have suitable small vessls for cruising about, so that the lads may be taught practical seamanship. 3. It appears that considerable use could be made, by vessels of suitable size, manned by the lads, in the supplying of lighthouses, surveys, transport of stores, &c, within proper limits from the schools. This is specially the case in the Auckland District, where, on account of the large area of the Haurald Gulf, it would be quite safe to intrust to the naval training vessel the work of supplying the whole of the lighthouses in the gulf. 4s. Looking at the large and constantly increasing tonnage owned and registered in the colony, it appears beyond question that many of the lads attending the schools could be provided for as soon as they had acquired a fair, practical knowledge of ordinary seamanship. Many owners now voluntarily accept lads as