COLONIAL DEFENCES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1514, 15 April 1885, Page 2

COLONIAL DEFENCES.

[REDTER’a TELEGRAMS —COPT EIGHT.] (Received April 15, 1 p.m.) Sydney, To-day. The Government Gazette contains a proclamation to the effect that on and after Tuesday, 21st inst., the Western Channel of Port Jackson will be closed to all vessels in order that measures may be taken for the better protection of the Sydney harbor.

Melbourne, To-day. In consequence of the uneasiness felt in regard to the foreign situation, greater activity is being manifested by all the Australian colonies in matters of defence. It is very probable that a permanent militia camp will be formed in Victoria to which the various corps will be drafted for instruction and drill. The age for admitting recruits to the militia has also been reduced. The work on the forts for the protection of the entrance to the bay is progressing rapidly. A project is on foot to form a militia corps of German residents in Melbourne. Adelaide, To-day. The Government of South Australia intend to establish a patrol service in the Gulf of St, Vincent, in order to give warning of the approach of hostile vessels, and measures are being taken for the protection of Port Glenelg.

Auckland, Last Night.

In the course of a conference with a deputation from tha Chamber of Commerce, the Premier admitted the torpedo boat should have baen in Auckland ere now, and promised to see to its despatch. He suggested that if war did come the Auckland people should do as Ohristchurh people had done, and as he believed the Wellington people would do, viz., raise forces of their own, thus relieving Government of the expense. Ha believed that had been done in the past in Auckland, and he thought its people would be ready to do so again. The Minister of Public Works men-

tion to a deputation to-day that Government were unable to obtain the required amount of labor for. prosecuting defence works at North Head.' He suggested that the Harbor Board should temporarily lend for this purpose the men employed at the dock, and promised that Government would return the compliment at the dock at some future time.

The first class Militia are being enrolled.

Tne Ponsonby Rowing Club propose to form a Torpedo Corps Mr J. M. Dargaville, MH. R., contemplates raising a contingent of 400 man from the gum diggings and bushmen of the Northern Wairoa.

Mr W. Anderson, late Captain of the disbanded City Engineers, offers Government the services of tha men as an Artitle’y or E.ngineer Corps, They were disbanded through the new regulations not providing for engineer*.

Wellington-, Last night. Major Cautley, Lieutenant (Douglas, R N., and Mr Smyth, Torpedo Instructor, have for the Manukau in the Hinemoa to-night, in counec'ion with the defences of Auckland. The Hinemoa will a'so, if possible, take up the torpedo-boat intended for the defence of Auckland harbor, the intention being to send it across by rail from Onehunga to the waters of the W«itemata. in preference to taking it up by the long East Coast sea route.