THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1294, 13 May 1878, Page 2

THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

The following letter appears in this day's "Press":—

Sib, —I am much obliged to you for insertidg my letter in your issue of Friday. The telegrams you published at the same time from Wellington throw a curious light on the position of the whole affair. They are well worth the consideration of Canterbury men. Mr Harman having been polite enough to telegraph to the Hon. J. T. Fisher, respecting the desire in Canterbury for an extension or the volunteer movement, received, as any one might have expected, a civil intimation that nothing can be done at present. Another telegram, however, comes (which, perhaps, Mr Fisher would not wish to have mentioned). This telegram states, on the authority of the Press Agency, that this same honourable gentleman, with some three or four more, "were out inspecting the harbour this after* noon, with a view of deciding where to place the batteries for defensive purposes." Really, Sir, the kindness of these official gentlemen is almost too much. It would be, as Artemus Ward would 6ay, "on account of the muchness,' that Canterbury men would decline it.

As far as the defence of Lyttelton is concerned, " the Government would not be justified in moving'' till war be actually declared, or, perhaps, it would be more to the point to say till Lyttelton has been burnt down and its shipping destroyed. As far as Wellington is concerned, the case is very different, as manifested in the second telegram to which I have called attention. Will the men of Christchurch and '.Lyttelton stand this sort of nonsense ? Because, if so, they will stand anything. Action must ba taken at once, if it is ever to be any use at all, and it is quite plain that whatever action is taken must be taken without reference to the Government, at least at present. No man need fear to act without consulting the Government, if he has faith in the only true principle of Government, namely, that the only possible good a Government can do is to carry out the wishes of the people. If the wishes of the people of Christchurch and Lyttelton are to have their property destroyed, the present Government are doing their very best to carry those wishes into effect.

The Hon. J. T. Fisher has said, in his telegram to Mr Harman, that he " would be glad to have on hand any expression of opinion," &c. I very much question if the hon. gentleman would " like" to have " expressions of opinion " if they came from this part of New Zealand. He can, however, easily have mine, which is, that any man who can advise her Majesty's Government of this colony at the present junction of affairs, that no action should be taken for defence, must be either a knave or a fool. I am, &C.J

An ex-Volttnteeb.