III. A Navigation School aided by Government should offer valuable prizes in the shape of exhibitions, instruments, books, &c.
The great difficulty we have to contend with is the reluctance on the part of some parents, the inability on the part of others, to maintain their children during the three years’ course.
Exhibitions and prize-schemes should therefore be established on the most liberal footing.
Prizes had been awarded by the Department in only two or three instances before my tour of visits.
(a.) I beg to suggest that prizes be awarded, when deserved, at all the schools every half year.
The prizes to consist of sextants, watches, instruments, books, &c. The future prizes to be placed at the commencement of the half-year under the charge of the local committee, to be exposed in the schoolroom in a case with a glass lid or cover. (The half-yearly value of the prizes to be about 15l.); the prizes to be fairly and openly competed for.
A very limited number of sextants should be given away, not more than one each half-year among all the schools. The prizes not to be awarded except on the most satisfactory proof of the lad’s sufficient proficiency.
(b.) I beg to suggest that exhibitions be established on the following scale, viz., at the rate of twelve for a school giving instruction to 100 boys, or one to every eight boys, and be awarded at all the schools every half-year.
The boys after the examination to be divided in the following manner:—