The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1889. THE FUTURE AUSTRALASIAN NAVY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2299, 11 December 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1889. THE FUTURE AUSTRALASIAN NAVY.

While the project for the formatioa of an Australasian Dominion is slowly ripening, and the nearer and preliminary stage of a federation for purposes of mutual defence is more rapidly crystallising m men's minds, it is satisfactory to know that pending its accomplishment arrangements are already m progress for the strengthening of the Imperial naval force m these waters, and that we shall soon have an Australian fleet of dimensions and power by no means to be despised. Speaking of the men-ot-war for this service, already launched or now building m the Imperial Navy Yards, Captain Bosanquet, of H.M.B. Opal, gave the following interesting information at the recent Exhibition banquet m Dunedin. He said: — " New and splendid cruisers would shortly appear on these coasts. These were seven m num--1 ber Five of them were cruisers of great power, 2700 tons burden, of 4500 horse power, and with a maximam epeed of nine knots. They were powerfully armed, with 8*471 m guns, with eight 3 -pounder quick firing machine guns, with twelve Whitehead torpedoes, and with a complete outfit of electric and submarine gear. The other two cruisers were of 770 tons, were also 4500 horse power, and steamed a maximum speed of twenty-one knots, and they were armed with 2'47liix quick firing guns, four 8 pounders, and eight Whitehead toi pedoes ." Th at, he added, was " a very powerful squadron," characterising it as " adequate for the purposes for which it is intended," and he congratulated the colonies upon the openhanded liberality and patriotism which they have evinced, and which have resulted m securing for them efficient naval protection m the event of a war m which England may be involved.