A RUSSIAN ATTACK ON NEW ZEALAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 442, 25 February 1878, Page 4

A RUSSIAN ATTACK ON NEW ZEALAND.

A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times sends the following letter, in which there is not a little truth.

I wish the Zealandian people would heed these words of mine. About Jan. 22 the Russian war-ships left their harbour in the North Pacific, distant from these Colonies about 4000 miles, or about 12 days fast steaming from our shores. The report that they left 4< for Japanese waters" is of course a lie, sometimes called diplomacy. They are probably within a few miles of English land at this moment, with spies and agents all ready to inform them by Darwin line (in cypher) of all ■our ships, commerce, harbours, &c. We are totally unprotected, the English have very kindly told us " they can't' us," and in the European war which is about to break out in full fury we shall be the only point of attack, for who would dare to attack England? Indeed we are the weak point of the English nation itself. There is only one remedy, one safety for us, which I wish to put shortly in this way. That the Pacific Colonies can strengthen the hands of the English nation; they can improve the status of Colonial loans; they ean facilitate the floating of new loans, and they can protect these Colonies, their shipping and commerce, by declaring their independence by cutting political union with England, and hoisting a new and neutral flag. The English, free from us, would have no weak point to attaek. In the war that is just going to-break out, we shall be exposed to heavy war indemnities, and to a complete destruction of our shipping and Commerce. Under a neutral flag we would be as safe as Chili, Peru, Brazil; the United States, Mexico, who all adopt the policy not to interfere in European quarrels, and not to be interfered with by Europeans. Our loans will 'be worthless, and we could certainly not issue any more, if it were Jcnown that weare undefended. Under a neutral flag we would find our credit hetter than ever, and the guarantee <of theOongiess of Pacific United States would stand well in the London money market If England wanted help we •could, under our neutral flag, send •corn and men through hostile fleets untouched, The political European case is really this-. The Russians mean war, but profess peace. They have got the •Quadrilateral, tie Tchekmedges, all the shore defences both sides of the straits ; and they have ordered a fresh levy of half a million in 1878. What for? This armistice gives them all the vantage points. They have got Admira)j ilornby in one trap shut up, and god Admiral Hobart in another shut out. Believe Satan ! Trust in the wind J Reason with despair! but don't trust a Russian.