L—9.

2

apprentices on board their vessels; and the Committee can see no great difficulty in making the whole of the vessels owned or registered in the colony, above a certain tonnage, carry a certain number of apprentices in proportion to that tonnage. 5. It would appear better, taking everything into consideration, to endeavour to work the cruising vessels in connection with a shore-school. The better health and greater sense of freedom which the boys would enjoy in such case will be clearly evident. 6. A great deal of valuable information as to the class and cost of the vessels fit for the purpose required will be found in the printed evidence and papers. The Committee recommend, That (a) Naval training schools are essentially necessary, and should be established and maintained as now provided by law; (b) A naval training school should again be established at Auckland, and a suitable cruising vessel be employed in connection with the institution; (c) A similar institution should be established at Port Chalmers or Lyttelton; (d) To meet the difficulty of classification a moored vessel might be used for the purposes of a naval training school. Such vessel might be stationed at Wellington. The criminal or refractory children could be committed to such vessel, and be thus placed under strict discipline and cut off from communication with the shore. John Sheehan, Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Monday, 17th July, 1882. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Daniel, Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Turnbull. The order of reference having been read, the Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman. On the motion of Mr. Daniel, Resolved, That Mr. Sheehan be Chairman of the Committee. On the motion of Mr. Daniel, Ordered, That the Clerk summon the Inspector-General of Schools (the Rev. W. J. Habens) to be in attendance at the next meeting, and also request the attendance of Captain Fairchild. Resolved, That the Chairman be authorized to send telegrams to various shipbuilders respecting cost of construction of a suitable vessel for training purposes. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 18th July, 1882. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Allwright, Mr. Daniel, Hon. Mr. Dick, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Sheehan (Chairman), Mr. Swanson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Rev. W. J. Habens was in attendance, in accordance with the request of the Committee, and after numerous questions having been asked him withdrew. Notes have since been sent to Mr. Habens of the questions put to him by the Committee, and he was asked to make a report upon the subject submitted. The question was raised as to whether the scope of the training schools should be confined to those children who were without parents, or whether it should include all those convicted of offences. At this period Mr. Peacock was requested to take the chair, Mr. Sheehan being called away to attend another meeting. On the motion of Mr. Allwright, Resolved, That Mr. Levin be requested to attend the meeting to-morrow. It was also agreed that the Rev. "W". J. Habens and Captain Fairchild be summoned to appear. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 19th July, 1882. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Allwright, Mr. Daniel, Hon. Mr. Dick, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Sheehan (Chairman), Mr. Swanson, Mr. Turnbull. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Eev. W. J. Habens attended and gave evidence, on the conclusion of which he was requested toreattend to-morrow.