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WATER POLICE COURT.

Wednesday.

BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate, Mr. W. Day.

John McDermott, 8, was brought up by Constable E. Ryan, under the Industrial Schools Act. He had been for some time wandering about the streets and did not appear ever to have been at school. Both his parents were said to drink to excess, and two of his brothers are already on board the Vernon. Prisoner told their worships that he went home one night about eight o'clock, and his mother would not admit him.

Sent on board the Vernon.

In February, 1867, she was fitted up for a nautical  school under the Industrial Schools Act of 1866, and inaugurated on the 17th of April, 1867. The first boys were received on board on the 20th of May the same year. 

Since then 697 have passed through the books, and 452 have been apprenticed to various callings, principally as farm and general servants. The first apprentice went to sea and is still following that profession.

The demand for shore work, far exceeds that for the sea, unless the grown lads were permitted to join the navy, when all that are available would be taken up for that service. The majority of these apprenticed have turned out well ; some are in Queensland and Victoria, but generally scattered over New South Wales working for themselves. Nearly all the reports from masters who have apprentices are favourable.

The work of the ship commences in summer at 4.30 a.m., and in winter at 6 a.m ; breakfast at 7 a.m ; half the boys to school at 9 a.m., the other half to trades and ship's work ; dinner at noon. At 1 p.m. the half who were at work go to school, and those who were at school in the forenoon go to work, except on Wednesday forenoon, when there is general sail drill and on Saturdays clean ship.

On Sunday, weather permitting, two divisions of boys are landed and march to church, under the charge of officers; the Presbyterian Church send teachers in the afternoon for religious instruction to the Protestant boys. On Friday morning they are examined at the guns, and occasionally they are landed on Cockatoo and drilled with rifles

The sporting folks of Dubbo had a treat on the 18th Instant in the shape of a twelve-hours' walking match for a stake of £20 aside, between Thomas Meagher, of Bourke, and Patrick McDermott, of Dubbo. The conditions of the match were that the men should walk from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and whoever covered the most ground then to be the winner. Neither men had much time for preparation, it being only a fortnight since the match was made, so that the winner must be credited with having done a very fair performance. He stands 6ft high, has a capital chest, about 50 years of age, and has a thin and wiry appearance, while his opponent is 27 years younger and about the same height. Meagher is reported to br a regular old bushman who has spent the best part of his life in carrying his swag from one end to the other of New South Wales ; it being currently reported that his last performance was walking from Bourne to Dubbo, 300 miles, in six days, which, if true, in my opinion, outrivals tho great O'Leary's feats, for there is some difference between the inland roads of Australia and a made track in the Agricultural Hall at Islington. There were two rings to walk upon, tho outer one, which measured 275yds 2ft 6in, being chosen by Meagher, and McDermott's, which was the inner, 269yds. Tho start was made precisely at 7 o'clock, tho youthful walker going off at a smart pace, while tho old 'un was quite content with the usual bushman's swing. At 1 o'clock, six hours, M'Dermott had covered 31 miles 185 yards, the bushman only having placed 28 miles to his credit, and still going at tho pace he started. At half-past 2 M'Dermott. who had been, most injudiciously allowed by his friends to drink any quantity of water, together with brandy, sherry, and bread and meat, fainted, but his older opponent, who had partaken of a few raw eggs, now commenced to gain. After a quarter of an hour M'Dermott came on the track, and walked well, and, at 4 o'clock, was 800 yards ahead,- but the old 'un was not to be shaken off, and, at tbe end of tho next hour, had decreased it to 640, and. at 6, despite M'Dermott's spurt, was only 400, and doing his laps in two minutes. Soon after 6 M'Dermott was apparently beaten, and very soon his head fell towards his shoulders, his muscles collapsed, and he fell, on the course, after going 52 miles 6 furlongs 145 yards. Meagher, who was only 310. yards behind, kept going on at the old pace till a quarter to 7. when he eased off a Ittle, and at 7 o'clock had completed 366 laps-55 miles 1532 yards-amidst great cheering. According to report he was not muon distressed by his performance, for it is said he danced a hornpipe half an hour after, and was walking round the town at 10 o'clock; and then expressed his willingness to walk to Murrumbidgerie, fifteen miles off, if anyone would pay him a fiver about it. What makes the performance so good was the great heat of the day, the thermometer registering 136deg., of which the men had the full benefit. M'Dermott's performance of over 31 miles in six hours was no mean one on such a day, and he has since challenged to walk anyone living within eighty miles of Dubbo. It is said that Meagher was.only just off a."big spree," in fact was hardly right when he walked, and will back himself to walk 60 miles in twelve hours.