THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1880. AUCKLAND HARBOR.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2090, 4 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1880. AUCKLAND HARBOR.

Auckland is now keenly alive to her geographical position. The certainty of a Central America! Canal being cut has moved the merchants of that city with a sharp sense that they should rise to tho occasion. And not only is there tho consideration that, when tho canal has been made, Auckland will be on tho highway used by the great steamers passing from Australia to England, but the fact that Sir Arthur Gordon retains a supervision over tho Eijis and other South Sea Islands, has appeared to bind our former capital somewhat with that region with which Sir Julius Vogel at one time suggested that wo should enter into intimate commercial connections. A third point of importance is also urged, namely, that England should fix upon Auckland as the most convenient centre for her maritime power in the South Pacific. The establishment of a great maritime arsenal on tho Amour sea-board, and the creation there of a strong division of her Siberian fleet, would seem to point to the fact that Russia is fully alive to the convenience of being able to harras England in these parts in case of war. Tho whole region from Corea to tho Amour Valley abounds with excellent timber and Jurassic coal of a very superior quality. As the “ Auckland Herald ” points oat, seeing that four-fifths of the trade with China is carried on under the British flag, and that its money value is estimated at twenty millions, and that besides there is an immense trade with Australasia, South America, and tho various archipelagos, and coasts of tho Northern Paefic, the trade which the scattered English sentinels would have to protect in case of hostilities is enormous. What more Judicious spot could be fixed upon than Auckland for the refitting of British war ships p Taking all these facts into consideration, namely the growing importance of the harbor as on the direct route between the proposed canal and Australia; the possibility of more intimate trade connections between New Zealand and the South Sea Islands ; and lastly tho danger indicated by the preparations of Russia on the Amour sea-board, Iwo think that the Auckland people are wise in making a now departure by placing the facts of the case afresh before the local authorities, and in endeavoring to gain the ear of the Imperial authorities.