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over twenty-eight years of age. Successful candidates are appointed probationary assistant paymasters, and sent to the Paymaster Training School to receive a course of instruction there for eight months. At the end of that time they are, after examination, appointed to different commissioned ships to receive practical experience, and after four months of that training, if favourably recommended, become Assistant Paymasters, gaining succeeding steps of promotion by selection. Ranking is as follows: Assistant Paymasters, Paymasters, Chief, Staff, and Fleet Paymasters, Paymaster-Inspectors, and Paymaster-Generals.

Every year a certain number of the naval architecture students from the Imperial University can make application to become students of the Navy. The expenses of the successful candidates are paid by the Navy, and on being graduated they are appointed Assistant Naval Constructors. The succeeding steps of promotion to Naval Constructor, Chief Inspector, and Inspector-General of Naval Construction, are gained by selection.

Ordnance Engineers are appointed in the same manner as Naval Constructors. Naval officers and engineers can also enter this branch by special appointment if desired.

Students in this branch are taught in the Hydrographical Office the theory, as well as the practice, of surveys, etc., and, passing a successful examination, are appointed assistants. Assistants can acquire rank as high as that of Captain, junior grade. As this branch of the service can be performed by naval officers, the continuation of this department in the future is doubtful.

The executive warrant officers are gunners and boatswains, gunners and torpedo-gunners having to have their qualification of gunnery or torpedo instructors before promotion. The non-executive branches holding relative ranks are engine-room artificers, bandmasters, carpenters, writers, and nurses. They are all selected from the petty officers of their respective bodies, having served at least two years at sea. A warrant officer of more than ordinary ability can, after six years of service, be promoted to be chief warrant officer, which ranks with Sub-lieutenant, and a chief warrant officer of long and meritorious