The War and the Colonies.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 824, 22 September 1870, Page 3

The War and the Colonies.

The Evening Post, Sept. 13, says:—We yesterday alluded to the necessity of the Government entering into some arrangement with Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co. for the rapid conveyance of the English Mail to this Colony while the war in Europe lasts. We mentioned that the mails occasionally lay in Melbourne for several days before the ordinary date for the departure of the New Zealand steamers, and in support of this we may now state the fact that the mail just received —certainly the most important that has come to hand for some years—was five days on board the Tararua prior to her departure from Hobson's Bay. In the event of England becoming involved in war, the importance to this Colony of early intelligence of the fact cannot be over-rated, and, as the next mail may not improbably bring important information on the subject, we feel justified in again most earnestly urging on the Government the absolute necessity for arranging for the immediate transmission to this Colony of any important intelligence which may reach Australia by way of Galle. To neglect this precaution would be little short of a political crime, and no monetary considerations should be allowed to stand in the way.

The Lyttelton Times of Sept. 13, says: —On again referring to our Yictorian files we find it stated in an Adelaide telegram that the leading South Australian paper strongly urges on the Government of that colony the necessity of following the example set by the Victorian Government, and of making arrangements for the defence of the colony. A passenger to Adelaide by the Rangatira mail steamer asserts that when he left London thousands of Germans were throwing up their occupations and leaving to join in the anticipated war. This news caused great excitement amongst the Germans in Adelaide. We find, also, that the Government of New South Wales intended to bring a Militia Bill before Parliament at once. A meeting of German residents of Melbourne was convened for the afternoon of September 3 to take means tDwards raising a fund on behalf of their countrymen wounded in the war, and the widows and orphans of the kiiled. A considerable sum has already been subscribed, and much enthusiasm has been exhibited by the German citizens of Melbourne on the subject. Similar meetings of Germans were announced in Adelaide and Sydney. The Argus advocates the establishment of a fortnightly mail service via Galle, to which it thiufcs the other colonies would readily subscribe. Our contemporary says:—Since the war news arrived business has been almost suspended in some of its branches through the holders of goods being quite in the dark as to how their value had been affected by the outbreak of hostilities. And similar difficulties will be constantly occurring, to the great detriment of our trade, if we content ourselves with a monthly mail throughout ft protracted European war.

The Governor of Victoria has appointed a Eoyal Commission to consider and report on the necessity of a federal union of the Australian colonies—a question to which recent events has given increased urgency and importance. The Otago Daily Times, Sept. 12, says: —The outbreak of war in Europe, and the contingency that England may also become involved in it, naturally suggest enquiry as to how New Zealand will be situated should that contingency become fact. It will be seen from our Wellington telegram that It is rumoured there that the Volunteers and Militia are about to be placed on a war footing, but this is not the point to whioh we intend at present to refer. As New Zealand will, should England go to war, be exposed to danger chiefly from the attacks of the enemy's cruisers, it is on our naval defences that we shall be compelled principally to rely. A consideration of what those defences are is by no means reassuring. The number of the vessels composing the Australian squadron is five; viz., the Olio, the G-alatea, the Blanche, the Virago, and the Rosario. We do not iuclude the Challenger, inasmuch as she is about to proceed to England. We are not aware as to the precise number of guns carried by the five vessels we have named as belonging to the squadron, but we are not far from the mark in putting it down at 70. Again, the Clio and Gralatea have left for Sydney (the latter to be overhauled), and the Kosario has gone for a cruise among the South Sea Islands. The Challenger sails for England on the 14th, and the Blanche, accoruing to our Wellington correspondent's letter, will most probably proceed to Sydney, though it is somewhat doubtful now whether she wiJl go on to the South Sea Islands as originally intended. When she leaves Wellington, therefore, the sole naval defence of the colony .vill be the Virago, so that we shall then oe reduced to what Lord Cfranville called the " last ship." #