The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2301, 21 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1870.

We feel glad that our Daily Con temporary has at last stepped down from Ins serene ignoring of possible danger, and has discovered that in case of England being involved in war, Dunedin might haply suffer. We should have been glad of his assistance earlier, for months ago we endeavored to rouse attention to the necessity for the Colonies being secured by treaty from the consequences of European com plications. We fear the opportunity is past; for justice and humanity do not generally engage the attention of governments in time of war. As then it is very problematical whether such a proposal would now be listened to, •although it is undoubtedly advisable to raise the question, our immediate <concern is to take stock of our means of defence. Our contemporary considers we should not be safe in Dunedin without an ironclad to defend us, and points out that our chief danger is to be apprehended from the Ocean Beach. This at once raises the question of what to do, and how to do it. We are not prepared to say he may not be right as to the possible shelling of a portion of the town from thence. It is a question for inquiry; and our own information as to the depth of water, the difficulties of the coast, and the contingencies that are required to render such an operation decently safe to an attacking vessel, is not sufficient to justify expressing an opinion. It seeins to us that even supposing such a bombardment passible, it must be on the supposition that no opposition is offered, for we can hardly imagine better natural batteries than the sandhills. Our difficulty seems to be the want of artillery sufficiently powerful to be effective against ships of war protected in the modern fashion. A

few guns capable of throwing heavy I shot, such as disposed of the Alabama . in so short a time, would cost much t less than an ironclad, and we should t think, if well served, would bo a very ( effectual defence of the Ocean Beach, j Having arrived at this stage of the . discussion, however, we consider we | have done as much as is possible to be done without professional advice. Wo know so much of the matter as to be quite conscious, in the absence of those data which alone give opportunity of deciding upon the degree of danger and the means to meet it, teat no civilian is competent to pronounce a reliable judgment upon a subject involving special knowledge. Iherc are, however, some matters that fall within the scope of men more accustomed to calculations connected with pounds, shillings,, and pence, than with the . science of projectiles. Our Morning j Contemporary treats lightly the pvotec- i tion of the Fort: that in his estimation is very easy. He seems to think it a secondary consideration ; and as no ironclad would bo needed there, it follows that the special mission of the ironclad would bo to protect the Ocean Beach. Now the cost of an ironclad would ho enormous, and when built, ■ she would just require the same heavy armament, or perhaps a gun or two less than would be sufficient protection •with the sandhills as a line of batteries. We leave out of the question the enor mous advantage of firing from a fixed base like terra firma, and a movable one like an ironclad at sea, and other obvious considerations in favor of land batteries. In a small community L .so heavy a cost as the purchase and maintenance of an iron clad would be ’ too great to be borne, and, in our ; opinion, would be needless; for it must be kept in mind that the argument of the Daily Times is, that the shelling of Dunedin would he to compel a subsidy being paid. As then plunder and not war, in the strict sense i of the word, would be the object of the attacking cruiser, it would become a matter of calculation as to reimbursej ment of the risk incurred. A heavy • shot or two pitched into the hull of an attacking vessel would almost certainly : in such a case be notice to quit. We put these considerations forward to show the necessity for inquiry and action. and the sooner the better. We have several times during the past twelve months pointed out the danger, i but nobody seemed inclined to listen. We now urge the necessity for prompt : and vigorous action, or the first note of War may be a call to defend ourselves before we are prepared. We think, if r the Government would only Jet the 1 people know they are wide awake, they , would secure their confidence; and still more so if the co-operation of the Citizens wasinvitedin a judicious scheme of defence. Bub first let a good plan be prepared. It is no use asking a Babel of opinions. Schemes, from a : floating battery to an air balloon, would be propounded by amateur war > engineers. A combined inquiry by ’ military and nival men and engineers • should at once be instituted, and the cost not neglected.