The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-01 00:00:00

Master Shipieright's Assistant.

Examination at Somerset-house.—When a vacancy for
a master shipwright's assistant occurs, the Surveyor of the
Navy will be directed to select for examination the three
foremen whom he may consider the most competent and
deserving of promotion, who must be prepared to undergo
an examination in algebra, as far as quadratic equations ;
in geometry, as far as the sixth book of Euclid, and prob-
lems depending thereon, and in the elementary principles
of mechanics and hydrostatics. These candidates will be
also subjected to an examination of practical ship-build-
ing, laying-off, and the general principles of the construc-
tion of ships.
These examinations are to take place at Somerset-house,
in presence of the Surveyor of the Navy, to be conducted
by such officers as their lordships may appoint.
The superintendents of the yards from which the candi-
dates have been selecte I will investigate carefully the
manner in which each candidate has performed his duty
as an officer of the yard, and they will transmit to the
Admiralty the original reports sent in by him to the master
shipwright's, in order that their lordships, with the assist-
ance of the Surveyor, may judge of his fitness for higher
duties. The decision of the hoard will rest upon a full con-
sideration of all the circumstances of the case ; and one of
the three examined will be selected to fill the vacancy,
unless it shall appear that none of them possess the requi-
site qualifications.

OTHER PROMOTIONS.
Cann.rrs, Joiners.—Qualifications as Inspector and Lead-
ing Man, &c.—The forms to be observed in recommending
for promotion and inspectors and leading men, of caulkers
and joiners, are to be precisely similar, every recommen-
dation being founded upon the quarterly reports, which
are to be transmitted to the master shipwright. But as
there is not the same scope or necessity for instruction
amongst these classes of artificers, the examination required
for a leading man of shipwrights will be sufficient for an
inspector of caulkers or joiners ; and a man will be qualified
to become a leading man who can read and write well,
and keep accounts correctly, provided the quarterly reports
bear testimony to his industry, sobriety, and good conduct
in other respects. The same will be required of the fore-
men and leading men of painters, and of the master smith,
who, with a salary of 2501. a year, ought to be a man of
some education. His foreman should also be able to read
and write, and to keep accounts correctly ; and my lords
intend to require this in all future appointments, both in
the smitheries and as leading men of labourers.
Timber Inspectors.
Their lordships having, by their order of the 27th of
February, 1847, appointed timber inspectors to the yards,
with salaries from 4001. to 3001. per annum, and instruc-
tions for their guidance having been issued on the 21st of
January, 1851, my lords expect a zealous and faithful per-
formance of their responsible duties, and in the future pro-
motion to this class of officers my lords will select candi-
dates front the foremen or converters, or from such other
persons as my lords on examination may find to be specially
qualified, from their practical knowledge of the qualities
and judicious conversion of timber.
Removals upon Promotion.
Promotion of Foremen and Inspectors.—More liberal
remuneration by increase of pay having been made since
1847 to the foremen and inspectors, and a field of honour-
able exertion being now open to them, in which merit is as
certain to lead to preferment as any written regulations can
make it, my lords conceive themselves entitled to hold
the services of these officers as absolutely at the disposal of
the Crown, whenever and wherever they may be required.
They will lay down no general rule respecting age or
removals at the time of promotion, but it is their intention
only to fill up the vacancies upon the list of foremen and
inspectors when the returns from all the yards will be before
them, and they reserve the right of transferring all officers
upon promotion to any yard where it is thought that they
may prove most useful. My lords except from this regula-
tion the foreign yards, as good grounds may., be assigned,
from family circumstances or health, nor declining to serve
in them ; but the officers who volunteer for this duty
whether as foremen, inspectors, or leading, men, will have
their time and rank (in addition to their increased pay) as
if employed in her Majesty's yards at home, and will be
most favourably noted for promotion when their conduct
abroad has proved satisfactory. My lords reserve to them-
selves the right of adding their names, upon their return to
this country, to the list of candidates sent up by any yards
in order to insure their re-entry upon their passing the
proper examination. Inspectors will be revired to serve
for twelve months upon probation before their appoint-
ments are confirmed.