The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2299, 19 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 1870.

GENTLEMAN, and an aide one too, commenting upon our second article recommending means to be taken for defending the Port, treated the matter in a very cavalier style, and pronounced it nonsense. We take him to be a representative man, and expect, from this expressed opinion, that there is a class who cannot realise either the danger or the confusion that unpreparedness would lead to in case of hostile attack. This inexperience of danger leads to absurd opinions of the value of means to meet it. We do not believe the people of Melbourne ever had a full consciousness of the inadequacy of their means of resistance until the Shenandoah’s visit; which proved to them how very easy it was for a powerfully-armed vessel to enter the Bay with comparatively small risk. Nor is it by any means certain that forts or stone walls would be effectual obstructions to vessels armed and protected according to the modern fashion. It must be very evident to those who have read the accounts given

of experiments in gunnery, and armorplating, that in proportion to the iiv I creased effectiveness- of cannon for J destruction are the means for defence against them, as applied to ships. In j fact, human life on shipboard is conserved now-a*days as far as possible, j But, apart from this, as it is certain < the Colony cannot afford to have forts i bristling with guns at the entrance of : each of its many harbors, because of the expense, the question to be determined is, whether surer and more certain means cannot be adopted for disposing of an enemy 1 Although virtually Victoria has only one port to defend, it is a question now debated in Melbourne how to protect their channels, and the papers are discussing the various means at command for the purpose. Their view is essentially the same as ours as to the character of the vessel or vessels from which an attack is to be apprehended. But it matters not whether vessel or fleet: neither must be allowed to make its way up to the Port. “ Prevention is better than “ cure.” Our cannon would be of little avail against a well-appointed vessel. It seems it is a doubtful question whether a heavily-armed ironclad would be sent on a lengthy voyage. Should such a one be sent, the result did she reach the Port would be certain. From recent experiments, they are found equal to crossing the Atlantic with safety ; , and although perhaps not so fleet as a frigate, many of them have proved to f possess very fair sailing powers. But , we do not suppose it would be. thought necessary to employ one of them on such a service. The object would be , spoliation, and under a threat of bom- , bardment or destruction of a town or 1 shipping, a heavy subsidy would have * to be paid as a ransom. This buccaneering phase of warfare might be undertaken either by a cruiser, or, should | letters of marque be issued, by a privateer ; and notwithstanding the ideal security in which so many rest, one of the Shenandoah class would be able to 1 dictate terms. Her visit to Melbourne was not of the pleasantest kind, although it was one of peace. The behaviour of the captain and officers was not free from bounce, and they took liberties net at nil consistent with the duty they owed to nGittyals, ju a neutral port. The requests made : assumed something of the form of i dictation, although preserving external courtesies ; and they did not hesitate to infringe the neutrality that ought to have been strictly observed, by accepting the services of men who offered to enlist under their banner. Ho far did they carry their contempt for neu--1 trality that they refused to give them , up, and it was only through the accident of the vessel being on the slip that the Volunteers were enabled to compel searching for them. No doubt this defiance of international law arose from the comparison the captain and ■ crew were enabled to make between ‘ the port’s weakness and their strength, i The Melbourne people would have , found their very proper and spirited '! conduct unavailable had the Shenandoah been afloat. But if Port Chalmers were visited by an enemy, the , matter would be more gerjous. There was something of the iu the Melbourne adventure. The Government had to fulfil a perplexing duty. ■ They had to avoid the remotest appearance of insult to the Northern States, to maintain their own dignity, and to render that assistance that the captain of the Shenandoah did not so much ask as demand. But if England ’ goes to war, and an enemy comes amongst us, no complicated course is required. The question is how to get rid of him in the quickest possible way, at the least possible elqsen.se. Of course, there are plenty of mea#g .of throwing impediments in the way. Vessels might Be sunk in the channel —booms might be constructed —forts built, and obstructions multiplied, i The vexatioa of such simple means is that, to he effectual, the work must be done in anticipation of a visit that may never happen ; for there would mb tys be time to do it were the Hoads once entered, and if done beforehand, our own commerce would be interrupted. Then, after all danger was passed, there would be the expense of raising the vessel or removing the booms, and very possibly the annoyance of finding they had been useless through no attempt being made. We imagine the torpedo is the least expensive and most efficient arm we can employ. Its application would be safe, swift, and certain. The British fleet in the Baltic during the Crimean war used to amuse themselves by fishing torpedos up, and ■we do not remember reading of an accident ; but we should think such a feat impossible in the Port, where boats could be commanded from every hill, and where the electric battery could be so effectually used. One vessel blown to pieces by such destructive agents would be a lesson to an enemy not to repeat the experiment. Of course, onr military and engineering friends might suggest something more effective, but not more certain and inexpensive.

Telegraphic.—Communication with lasoby, via Palnvrstou, is expected to be in forking order in about two months, the preiminary survey of the lino having been competed last week. The length of the new oute will not exceed forty miles. The Volunteers. —The Gazette of he 12th instant contains the promotion of Wain and Adjutant Atkinson ; also the assignation of Captain Paterson, No. 1 Com3any. Captain Paterson is .appointed unittached ; commission to date from Sept. 2-, 1808. Rifle Match.— The competition for No. 1 Company’s Challenge Belt took place on Saturday last, at the North Dunedin range. There were only fourteen competitors, and after an exciting contest the belt fell to Corporal M‘Gregor with a score of 33 Corporal Tressedcr being second v it.i 33. The ranees were 700, 7->'’h and 800 yards. No. 2 Company’s Challenge Belt is now on view at Messrs Harrop and Neills, Princes street. The “ Daily Times ” Extra of Saturday.— Our contemporary in a short paragraph, claims to establish the tiutliful ness of a telegram published as au extra on Saturday ; but in his effort shows how little he understands the meaning of the teuns used. He is not responsible for the error of the telegraphist. That might have been allowed to pass, hut when his qwu paper po nts out the mistake into which he has fallen, only the grossest ignorance could lead to defence of it. The telegram stated that the French expedition to the Baltic comprised war ships. The New York Tribune from which this extraordinary announcement was compiled, states “ the transports of the llect comprise not loss than 820 vessels. Between these two statements there is a very wide distinction. Transports are not war ships hut vessels merely employed for conveyance of troops and stores, and some in later days as hospital ships for the wounded. Only nineteen war ships appear to have entered the Baltic ; these with gunboats and the transports will together number not far short of 350 vessels. Had the telegram state ! transports there would have been no unbelievers.

The Country.— On the 12th instant information reached Alexandra of a dead body having been found in a paddock on the bank of the river, near Sandy Point. Constable Mnrkane at once proceeded to the spot and had the body removed. As_ it was nothing but a disjointed skeleton, it could not possibly ha identified, hut it is supposed to he the remains of poor Charles Stewart, a workman onboard the Alabama Dredge, who, it will bo remembered, was drowned within a mile of Snuly Point, ou Monday, the 2ist of September, 18(59.—The miners who found the big nugget at Queenstown last week have since been enjoying themselves amazingly, and every day a half-hogshead of beer finds its way from the brewery to the One Mile. Tins is “sweating it out” with a vengeance, and is something new in the shape of imbibing. Thirty six ounces of gold, turned into barrels of beer at wholesa’e prices, will kiljl tlye poor men before they can drink it all up.—A new dredge has been launched upon the SbotQver.at Arthur's Point. The launch was very successfully made, and it was duly christened by a httje g|i'l the “Golden Cloud.” The company purple bujlding a sec md dredge immediately, should their prospects turn out as anticipated. ihe dredges arc taking advantage of the low sLjtg of the Molyneux, and arc all in full work. The gold < btained by this system is not a tithe as in previous years, but good wages in excess of working expenses is about the result.