THT GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS ON COLONIAL DEFENCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 292, 10 December 1877, Page 4

THT GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS ON COLONIAL DEFENCES.

The following ia a portion of the j correspondence between the Governor I aad Ministers regarding the visit of ' Sir W. Jervoia anl Colond Scratchley : — On the 2nd November Sir George Grey says : — " Ministers regret that tbe services of the Hinemoa being required here it ia not in their power to send tbat vessel to Hobart Town with a view to her being placed at the disposal of Sir W. Jervois. 1 ' On tbis beiog communicated to Sir W. Jervois, he replies by telegram — " Adelaide, 29th November. — Can your Government place Hinemoa at my disposal during January (o visit your ports, commencing at Bluff." To wbich Sir George Grey, in reply, informed the Governor that Ministers regret that the Hinamoa, aa they have already said, is required for other purposes. The Governor, in reply to the memorandum of Ministers, in whioh they state the services of the Hinemoa cannot be given to his Excellency Sir Wm. Jervois during the time he is employed in examining and reporting on the defences of Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland harbors during the month of January. — The Governor would point out that the services of Sir Wm. Jervois and Colonel Scratchley were obtained through the Socretary of State at the request of the late Government, on the understanding that the remuneration to Sir Wm. Jervois and Colonel Scratchley should be at the same ratee paid by tha Australian colonics. The Governor wouid observe that the harbors to be examined are large, and that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the work to be properly completed without the officers employed having a special steamer at their dispoaal. The Governor would wish also to point out that some consideration is due to the position of Sir Wiliiam Jervois as Governor of a neighboring colony visiting New Zdaland, not for hia own pleasure, but at the request and for the service of this colony. The Governor would imply from the curt auswer of Ministers to tbo request made by Sir Willam Jervois for the use of the Hinemoa, that thoy do not approve of the object for which he is about to visit the colony. Should such be the case, if Ministers will state their wishes in writing, tbe Governor will at once communicate with Sir William Jervois and request him to put off his visit; but if the work is to proceed, the Governor can conoeive no service on which the Hinemoa could be more properly employed, and Ministers have not informed him of any special services which would prevent her being so employed. Tbe Governor would request a reply as soon as possible, as he must communicate with Sir Wm. Jervois at once. Ministers regret that the Governor should have regarded their reply to his memo, respecting Sir Wm. Jervois as being curt. They wrote amidst the hurry of a great pressure of business, and they intended that their answer should be in every respect courteous. (2) Ministers were not aware until they received tbe Governor's memo, that it might be in their power to dispense with ihe vi6it of Sir Wm. Jervois to New Zealaud, but the state of the finances of the colony at present is auch that it is their duly to avoid expenditure wherever it is possible to do. They feel satisfiel that New Zealand could not at this moment incur any large expenditure on public works for the defeuce of the many harbors of the coloDy. They might possibly with Jput little warning have to make provision for resisting an internal enemy, who might prove much more dangerous than any external foe. The best means of providi*a<*; against such an internal enemy is the expenditure of funds in civilising the natives, opening up the country by menus of roa Is, encouraging settlement in Native districts, and otherwise promoting friendly relations between the two races. Tbey would therefore prefer to apply any funds available for defence purposes to these objects, rather than to devote such funds to cosily works, meant for resisting a foreign enemy. Eor the latter purpose tbey trust confidently to the fleets of Great Britain, wbich they feel satisfied will never allow a foreign enemy to dominate in these seas. Under all circumstances, therefore, whilst regretting that they cannot avail themselves of tiie valuable servvices of so distinguished au officer as Sir W. Jervois, if it is possible, without auy uncourteousness on their part, to delay his visit until a time when the colony may be iu a better financial position Ministers wouid feel greatly obliged to the Governor if he would make such a communication to Sir Wm. Jervois as may be fche means of postponing bis visit to New Zealaud. The Governor acknowledges leceipt of Sir George Grey's iqeoio. of this day's date, in which Ministers inform him that, in consequence of the financial condition of the colony, tbey advise the Governor to communicate with Sir "W. Jervois, and to request him to postpone indefinitely his visit to New Zealand. The Governor will at once comply with the adviee given to him by Ministers, but he must at the same time espress his deep regret that they should have felt it their duty to come to such a decision, as he fears it is one which is little calculated to raise the credit of the colony abroad. The fleets of Great Britain will no doubt in the •event of war perform their duty as

thej have always done, but it is so manifestly impossible that England, even if she were disposed to do so, could keep sufficient ships in these seas to secure at all times her various possessing from the attack, of small expedtions or of a single ship or privateer, aud it is, in the G-overnor's opinion, clearly the duty of each Colony to make such provisions as they may consider necessary for that purpose. The question is one of pablic importance, and the Governor will feel it is duty to lay this correspondence before Parliament without delay.