OUR DEFENCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 300, 4 September 1874, Page 2

OUR DEFENCES.

To THE EWTOK OF THE EVEJJINO IQ.IL. Sir— Noticing the speech of Colonel Brett in last night's Mail on the defence of the Colony, I carefully read the same, and readily concur in the opinion expressed that, instead of wasting money, as it is now wasted, upon feather bed Volunt-ersi, the Government should allow each seaport town, say, four good guns, the companies to mount and build fortifications according to the plans approved "" of by the Engineer Staff; such guoSito be the property of the companies after two years' service, and the completion of certain works.! Then we ahould soon have our town, fortified and manned by really efficient Volunteers as compared with the cost of Volunteers in their now -useless state. We have, perhaps, in Nelson, the finest natural fortification* of any port in New Zealand, yet a privateer could lie outside our harbor and\ bombard the town without our being able to flr/a single shot in return. Ytt with a very Ynffing expense of labor, which would be cheerfully given by every Volunteer, we could make ourselves secureagainst almost any force that could be sent to these colonies. Hoping that some one in authority will take the subject up. I am, &c, A VOIiONTEEK.