The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-20 00:00:00

MASTER MARINERS and MATE

S(tHrli SHIELDS, DEC. 14.—A meeting has .111.,”
been bei,l here of the Marine Board, some tune
established for the examination of masters and IDAt!ls
and the report made by th: committee is Yell;
teresting, and shows the exertions of the parties 03-,
of the ntraost value to the shipping interest. ,„
The report states that the examiners have not Dv-
inattentive to the duties for which they were elected;
and it is gratifying to show that the number of otf;
plicants who hare attended for examination is °II
increase :
Mates passed the board, and obtained certificates, 47
last year . ......................................
Refused certificates:—
From incompetency and ignorance of the coast so 3
ofeavigation .............................................
Not having been full two years mate, and therefore I
not examined ....................................

Want of teatimonirds of character . ................ ..

Total ........................ f-or
Of the 47 who ob tamed certificates, two pssled'
navigation and nautical astronomy, in Chto 1;
passed, for coasting and plain navigation, in C 11139
and '24 passed, as coasters only, in Class 3.
The report refers to the six preceding fell"'
the result is as follows :
First year—Applicants examined and granted- co- 46
tifieates. ................................................... As
Second year—Ditto, ditto ..................... '
... ..5
Third year—Ditto, ditto ........................ 54
Fourth year—Ditto, ditto ....................... 40
Fifth year—Ditto, ditto ........................ 47
Sixth year—Ditto, ditto ........................

Total ....................... Ith4°o
The amount received for certificates during, t
last twelve months was 6SI. as., from which, d.eull't:
ing the charges of conducting the establislnel'he
together with a donation of 101. 105. presented to to
Master Mariners' Asylum, South Shields, a bsls°
remained in te treasure's hans of 121
The attendance of the examiners was. constant she
regular, and their services entirely gratuitous. .1.
applicants are examined on trigonometry and,ii„et
gation, without the assistance of any schoolinas,`°;,,,,le
other person. Up to this time the Society had tbe
four donations to the Mariners' Asylum out cf
,
surplus balances of their fund, amounting to 541:'A' ti
,;.
The board had observed with feelings of g'rs,t`„"ced
tion that a variety of good effects had been pros the
in the locality by this voluntary institution and
nautical schools were better attended, a gradual :en
marked improvement was appal-at in the sss;is
who presented themselves for examination, 10,t'ilit
in the theory and practice of navigation, but a'..,,,s°tdi
higher branches. The young mate as he Pru', in
along the coast sets himself earnestly to w°r-d' in
order to become acquainted with its dangers s°,,tiio
difficult navigation, so that he may be able to___The'- to
a certificate, and become a master. Thus 11-17,isf•
promotion is open to the talented and enterer"- of
without being obliged to wait for it from cbsficutel
favour, or delay. The same incitement stiniu'i-rie
them to learn the use of charts and nautical tn.
ments. These are the practical results; and the inor s
influence which the board exercises cannot of °beeo
be ascertained, but it is certain the effect hes
acknowledged by many.tl
The report alludes to the case of the abilc, to
Vane, which put back in July last, on I eol.euing
Archangel, in consequence of the master attetnpncb
to scuttle the vessel, which, having crested Do
interest in the public mind, is of importance;;„nerts
master being quite unacquainted With the row:d
of plain navigation, his duty devolved entireli y coo
mate, who, feeling by this means his own itnlVir",:ool
appears to have treated the captain Wit° ~n-ftlft
tyranny and harshness, and brought on teivrbica
insanity. Independent of the great danger to re,
this vessel was exposed under charge of so inc.,,,leutt
tent a commander, it is easy to perceive hove sroyet
on a voyage to the White Sea, ignorant of I°l his
essential duty, must quickly cease to retain 01,e'ds
crew either respect or subordination, and an'Atts
convincing proof of the necessity that both 11.',.A-edia
and mates on such voyages should be duly Vs'
navigation. (I°/}/
The report recommends that on all occasions 0 of
or stranding of ships a continuation of the ssteoe
inquiry into the causes and circumstances, then
as is practised in the navy, will always strengthlo:
good effects sought to be obtained by the eats'o,,el
ment, and that whether such misfortunes be °,,t10)
by neglect in the use of the lead, or other ,131
of duty on the part of the officers, to punish theta
-
suspension or dismissal from command.
At the time the board presented its report the !)itli
vious year, the shipping interest was threatens
Civets
Ivo
a Bill, having for its object the compulsory
Parliamentary Boards for the examination of se,s, to
intended to be masters and mates, and liken
es, the
found and maintain schools at the expense .I.,ce
shipowner. The Government however, have 01 ,
stated that it is not intended to pass that ..s5
but, on the contrary, have notified that all soarrds
desiring the establishment of voluntary marine boa
will be encouraged and assisted by a legisl,"l!
enactment in preparation for that purpoSe'.2.tthe
quite in accordance with a resol9tion pis I
~,r1 las•t
iw
annual meeting of the managing' under„
roper
year, and will allay the apprehension that WV-
persons would obtain the situation of examinell'oieS
The report concludes by the examiners exPlke to
their readiness during their continuance in ° "jet,:
carry out the objects of the institution by A 3.-,,uicla
practical system, free from all useless and therve.the
interrogations, and influenced by a conviction 0
beneficial results of voluntary establishments, sunc,llo'
the present, on the seamen and maritime rektbst
tion. They also desire to place it on ree'r „.the
every seaman who has obtained a certificate froust
board was competent to fulfil the duties of 11,111.1
iefer
mariner in the class to which he was rated, 'ev""-,„eer
his after conduct might be, and that no essths
who had not himself been actively engaged sit ,
difficult and dangerous navigation of the c° _,--flues
England, could undertake the examination of s`r-,
in
intended for command in that trade, and the 881/leri'
respect to many other branches of maritime e''
once and knowledge. toths
The shipping interest is deeply indebted -1,0(1'
shipowners at South Shields for originating 5°.'11 V
able an institution, and there is no doubt it s'irofi
invaluable to the masters and mariners, and in)?
their welfare and general happiness.
io- n
STATE OV THE TTNE.—The 'mums.--ut the
ships, from the late contrary winds and strong 4e11;,i0
bar, is now so great, that the harbour at ShieldsA, sa"
very dangerous condition; and if any of our frieinnout;
neighbours in Newcastle or Shields are sceptic," -cu t.,
to doubt, or obtuse enough not to understa° DeiPs
pressing necessity which exists for proper moorivgitfoini
laid down in the river, and for a night police to be, esl3l-
- thereon, we respectfully invite them, bef°„re-t
is termed a sea tide comes, when the ships can 1',;4 Pne
to take boat at the high-end of South Shields. 6'4 ttf
leisurely down to the Low Lights, and the'', "nothe"
every berth, safe or unsafe, fully occupied. 11,),°- Fr i:
fleet of light vessels should' come in- before
_Al'euo
sent loaden fleet be gone, they will be oblige, esse,";
up to Jarrowslake, and bring up. In 03°,0ril
1 eti,l
twelve ships and upwards are in one tier, 0-
s. 0t
wooden posts on the shore. These posts sire,„ep„f
Tate property ; and when the tides are very I"-,
the flood of the country water comes down besorlyi,'
frequently break, and occasion the tiers to g,„00 !?,'"°
forcing the ships into collision, and driving thce,7, ',.e
bank, so that considerable damage is done. °"l,-110;"
frost become severe this winter, and the ice Wre • e'r
suddenly, most serious disasters would ensue, ,;(iiltb",:
nestly trust that the conservators of the river hifrO:
this matter into their deep consideration.— T°.
of
BIRTHS. thel '
On the 17th inst., at Tawstock Court, DevOD, "
of 00
Edward J. Weld, Esq., of a son.
On the 16th inst., at Boulogne. sur-lifer, the yid
Hon. Henry Graves, of a daughter.
On the 23d ult., at Villa Corsi, near Florence,
th
Alfred Lambert, Esq., of a daughter,

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