The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-19 00:00:00

THE NAVAL RESERVE.

SHIELDS, Dec. 15.—During the recent long de-
tention of a large fleet of coal laden vessels in the
Tyne, considerable interest was taken in the subject
of the Naval Reserve by the more intelligent of the
ablebodied north country seamen, as it was seen
that men belonging to that force were earning their
guinea a week in drill on board the Castor man-of-
war, lying in the harbour, at the time the men out
of the Reerve were walking about with their hands
in their pockets. While Tyne vessels are in the
harbour loading, or lying loaded, the crews are
earning no wages, their engagement being for the
voyage; and many of them having been detained
a month in port by the recent foul winds, their
families are likely to endure considerable hardships,
as with the detention many of them will not com-
plete the voyage for which they signed under two
months. Recently, in consequence of the satisfac-
tory explanations that have been given, the men
have been joining the Reserve at North Shields at
the rate of 25 a day. But as more information was
asked, it was deemed by some intelligent seamen
that it would be a good thing to call a body of the
i men together, and a meeting has just been held n
the Long-room of the local Marine Board, which
was extremely well attended by seamen, and which
was very unanimous and enthusiastic. Mr. C. a
Greenhow, the shipping master of North Shields,
who has given a good deal of attention to the sub-
ject, was the principal speaker. He passed in re-
view the circumstances that had induced the people
of England to overhaul their defences and which
had caused about 100,000 of the best men of the
country to enroll and drill themselves as volunteers
in the land service. He said that our sailors stood
unequalled as such, but in the present position ofthe
naval defences of the country something more than
seamanship was needed ; it was essential that a num-
ber of men should be kept constantly trained in
gunnery, so that in case of emergency our shores
should not be left to the protection of raw levies,
hut that ourmaritime power should be defended and
upheld by trained gunners as well as able seamen.
A commission sat some time ago, he said, to make in-
quiries as to the best means of attaining that object;
various propositions were submitted to the commis-
sioners, but at length it was determined that s
reserve of 30,000 able seamen should in the intervals
of their employment be properly trained to defend
the shores of their beloved land. The terms had
been most liberal to the seamen entering this ser-
vice. They would be paid 30s. a-quarter, have 0;
pension at 55 of £l2 a-year, and after 10 3 ears
service they would have the preference of Coast-
guard appointments. The only obligation upon,
them was, that they should undergo four weeks
drill in the 12 months, for which they would receive
a guinea a-week, the hours being two and a half in
the morning, and two and a half in the afteraoonr
and their drill would be so arranged as not to pre-
vent them following their ordinary employment at
sea. They would be protected from any of the
contingencies that might arise in case of war, and,
under no circumstances that might arise would
they be called upon for any other duty than that of
the defence of the United Kingdom. Mr. Greenhoar,
after appealing to the patriotism of the Tyne moor
hoped that if any seaman had any question to puts
or remark to make, he would do it, and concluded
amid considerable applause. Thomas Wells, who
had formerly been a boatswain in her Majesty
service, said that he himself had offered to join the
Reserve, but, as he was above 40, he was not
eligible. He entered into details with regard to the
Reserve, and thought the terms extremely fair,
and such as seamen of the age eligible for the ser-
vice should accept. Charles Barker, another tar,
highly approved of the advantages of the Reserver
as affecting the Tyne seamen, who were a domes'
fleeted and home loving set of men. He said the
money that they would be entitled to draw evert
quarter would pay for their house and firing, and
the four weeks' drill under ordinary circumstance,
would not interfere with their regular employment.
He could speak for the Tyne men, that if the shore,
of England should ever be threatened by the foreign
foe, they, like their forefathers, would be ready to
drive the enemy from the waters of the North Sea.
William Ward, a very intelligent seaman, followed,
with a fluent and well-delivered speech. He big'
no hesitation in saying that the reason why so many
of the more intelligent of the north country seamen
held back from joining the reserve was the incliv,
criminate flogging that was permitted in the iaavl;
The men had no objection to a thief or a very bad
character undergoing that punishment, but its bad's'
criminate use was strongly objected to, and pre-
vented good men from joining. Several other sea-
men made remarks favourable to the movement,
and the proceedings concluded with three cheers for
the Reserve, and three cheers :for Mr. Greenhovt.
Since the meeting a dozen seamen have joined, and
a great number more would have given in their
names had not the immense fleet moving out of the
Tyne called " all hands on board."

Royal
\ion day
There

TRE.