The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2546, 15 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871.

Wje do not really believe in the filibustering nows which comes to us from day to day ; but we cannot disguise from ourselves that our unbelief will not prevent it, if we are mistaken. In Melbourne and in Sydney they profess to be equally sceptical; but, while doubt-

ing the probability, they admit the possibility of such an expedition. There is, however, a very wide difference in the way in which they act in Australia, from the course we take. There they ere prepared to resist —here we are content to be robbed. There they are taking steps to destroy an enemy, should lie venture inside their harbors —here we invite his coming by doing nothing at ail. It was the same when there was every prospect of Great Britain being at war with some other European power—nothing seemingly but hard knocks can rouse us in Otago from our apathy. It is too much to affirm that no preparations whatever have been made for repelling such an attack; for we have the best Volunteer Corps in New Zealand, and we have full confidence that what man can do they would do, if called to the front. But wo cannot disguise from ourselves, and it would be wrong to disguise it from others, that our small Armstrong guns would be harmless when opposed to vessels protected as armed vessels are, in these days of science applied to mischief. It is quite possible so to guard against the effect of shots, that what would have raked a vessel from stem to stern some twenty-five years ago, may now be made to glance harmlessly from the bow, with hardly a mark to shew where it had struck, and without injuring a man. It is quite possible so to protect the crew on board, that none shall be in danger of being hit by the well-aimed shot of our skilful marksmen, as steam propelled the vessel would glide into Port Chalmers, with our own men exposed to the fire of her broadside guns. If we could only have the crew on shore, they might and would be readily and effectually dealt with ; but on board their floating battery, they would be aide to dictate terms. Now, wo ask, why should we hold out such inducements for attack 1 We cannot suppose that there has really been no foundation for the alarm. The American Government must have believed there was something in it, or they would not have warned the English Government. The English Government must have believed there was something in it, or they would not have warned the Governors of the Colonies. The Governors of the Colonies must have believed there was something in it, or they would not have taken the steps they have adopted. We believe there may have been somthing in it, although the* probability is that the very publicity given to it, and the alarm raised, have prevented its being carried into effect. Yet there is the remote chance of its not being abandoned—and if so, in what plight do Dunedin and Port Chalmers stand 1 We suppose the chief filibuster would reason thus—- “ Well, our schemes are blown, and “ we shall have American and British “ ships of war looking after us : but “ the sea is wide, and we may manage “to keep out of their sight. So if we “ can dodge them, where shall avg go 1 “ Melbourne and Sydney ai'e best Avorth “ plundering; but the people there are “ wide awake —they mean to blow us “ up into the air, and they arc ready “to do it. We had better give them “ a Avidc berth, and Iqok out for a “ prize Avljere there is no risk of being “ scuttled by one of those vile tor- “ pedos. There's those sleepy, unbe- “ lieving Dnnedinites left to us. “ They’ve three Governments and “ themselves to look to—one saying “ to another, ‘ It’s not my place to “ ‘ blow thorn felloAvs into the air—its “ ‘ your’n.’ And the Governor does “ nothing, and the Provincial Govern- “ ment does nothing, and the Mayor “ of Dunedin docs nothing, and the “ people don’t ask them ; that’s the “ hole for ns. We’ll go to Dunedin.” Really one could not blame the scoundrels if they did arrive at such a villainous decision—Ave should blame ourselves, The reputation for preparation would be better protection than a dozen men of war. For all >ve knoAV to the contrary, the very best means in the world arc ready to be used for the defence of the harbor; but it seems to ns that it should be made known that such is the case, and then it would he a thousand to one against their being called into requisition. But avc very much fear that we arc as careless on that point as on the quarantine arrangement, the inefficiency of Avhich never Avas questioned until scarlet fever let ns into the secret. Then Government and Mayor thought it time to stir. We suppose Avhcn some fine vessel has been cut out of our harbor, worth sixty or seventy thousand pounds, it Avill be found out that two or three thousand pounds would have been Avell laid out in booms and torpedos.