The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1042, 27 October 1877, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1877.

A short time ago a great deal was said and written on the subject of colonial defences, but there, of course, the matter ended. The country is as defenceless now as it was then, and it ■ is, we suppose, likely to remain in this | condition for an indefinite period. The chance of Great Britain being embroiled in an European war is, for the moment, improbable. When the time comes for settling the terms of peace between Turkey and Russia, the same scene will probably be repeated, and should, unfortunately, our country be forced to fight in defence of her rights and interests, we shall be in as helpless a condition as we were at the outbreak of the present conflict. The Hon. Colonel Brett has brought this question before the legislative Council, and in doing' so expressed the opinion that our defences were in a deplorable state, in fact, that they were nil both internally and externally. In the remarks which he thought fit to make, he reviewed the present condition of our volunteer force, the conclusion arrived at by him was .tb&f the state of our local forces resembled that of the French army on the eve of the iapt war —that as the French Emperor was deceived as to the number of -his troops, so , would the Governor of iSfew Zealand* were ouv volunteers called to

take the field. Speaking o£ the returns placed before the House, the hon. gentleman said—“ They found boys—children in fact—put on the strength of the force, who were unable to carry an arm, much less use it. A great many men were placed on the returns of the different corps and companies, who in military parlance, were nothing more or less than paper men—that was to say, men who never appeared on parade from the Ist of January to the 30th December.” Again he said “he believed also, from the report of Major Gordon that was submitted to the Council a year or so ago that the capitation allowance was drawn by men who were undeserving of it, who were not, he might say, justified in receiving it. That money was paid by the commanding officers of the companies, who should be made answerable for it. It was an act of dishonesty on the part of those officers.” The above charges are very serious indeed. and affect the honor and integrity of a considerable number of gentlemen throughout the colony. Moreover, they are made in general terms, and so affect every volunteer officer responsible for such returns. We, therefore, hope these gentlemen will demand a thorough investigation into the whole of the charges brought forward by Colonel Brett, If the country is paying capitation allowance for “ paper men,” as they are called, the sooner the fact is made known the better, and those who are guilty of defrauding the Government exposed and punished. On the other hand, if there is no truth in the remarks of Colonel Brett, it is high time a stop is put to such unguarded statements as those made by the honorable and gallant Colonel. We have received a copy of Messrs Dobson, Bell and Higginson’s report on the valuation of the Canterbury provincial railways. The total valuation amounts to £731,759, from which, however, there has to be deducted a sum of £15,789 10s 6d, leaving the net sum as follows ; —£715,969 9s 6d. The items are as follows : —Lyttelton and Christchurch line, £382,3-17; Christchurch and Selwyn, £59,950 ; general, £197,009 (included in this item are —station and other buildings £9118; stores at Christchurch, £11,139 ; land, £91,357 ; rolling stock, £76,063 ;); Opawa branch, £71,548 ; duplicates of engines and carriages, £2656; engineering and management, 5 per cent, on £365,000, £18,250. Total. £731,759.