DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1859, 7 February 1880, Page 3

DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

[By Telegraph.]

[from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, February 6.

Colonel Scratchley goes North to-day by the Hinemoa, accompanied by Captain Johnson, Secretary of the Marine Department. He has now inspected all the New Zealand ports included in his programme excepting Auckland, which is the last on his list. Ho will devote Monday and Tuesday to the examination of Auckland Harbor and surroundings, proceeding to Sydney by the San Francisco mail steamer on Wednesday. Col. Scratchley’s report is said to bo almost ready for presentation. He has been writing it as he goes, making that for each port complete in itself. Although the contents have not yet transpired, it is understood that he recommends a combined system of guns and torpedoes for all the New Zealand ports, the big guns being concentrated as much as possible near the respective entrances, supplemented by an organised plan of torpedo launches and other methods of using torpedos. His idea is said to be that a battery of big guns might not be sufficient in itself to deter hostile cruisers from endeavoring to force an entrance because the dangers would be known, and could therefore be guarded against. A torpedo defence, however, would involve unknown dangers—unknown at least as to their precise situation and extent —and therefore would inspire much more respect. Then again, while a vessel was detained fishing for ground torpedoes at the entrance she would be a target for torpedo launches, fish torpedoes, and for the battery of big guns, which could then be used w ith destructive effect. It is believed that Colonel Soratchloy’s report will indicate a simple and practical plan of port defences at a much smaller cost than was previously anticipated. He is expected to send it in before embarking in the mail steamer, and it should reach Wellington with the inward San Francisco mail. The opinions above indicated have been gathered conversationally, and I do not of course vouch for their being put in this shape in the report, but I believe they will be found to be not far from the mark.