A PRACTICAL SPEECH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 129, 31 May 1878, Page 4

A PRACTICAL SPEECH.

On the occasion of the presentation of prizes for rifle shooting at Launceston on the 30ih ApriJ Governor Weld made the following remaks ;— » THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELF-RBLIANOB, I have heen asked will Eugluud not defend ua ? Are we worth ottackiug ? Can we defend ourselves, and enn we afford the expense ? England will no doubt defend us, but it is impossible that her fleet should be everywhere, and you oimnot expect her single un.armoured sbipa of no great size to lie in parts where they would not be assisted in case of need by batteries, and might be caught in a trap by a superior force. ***** j think it may be reasonably expected that in a war England would be nble to prevent any powerful expedition being directed against the colonies. (Such an expediiion could not be fitted out and get to sea secretly ; it would probably never get to aea at all, and if it did it would almost certainly be taken or destroyed. I doubt not also England would take vigorous measures by the empleyment of swift cruisers to yrotect commerce and to capture hostile cruisers or privateers j indeed we already hear that she is prepared to do so, but the seas are wide, and even in the old days of sailing vessels, at the end of the last century and the beginning of this, when we had clouds of cruisers and privateers, though we did them of hostile fleets we sustained much damage ; and we all remember bow much injury the Alabama j inflicted upon the commerce of the Northern {States before the was met and captured, though several vessels , were solely occupied in her pursuit ; therefore I do think that it is probabi that some vessels of that claes, for which telegrams tell us a national subscription is being raised io Russia, nany Bucceed in eludiDg English cruisers for a while, and may attack and levy subeiJiee, or in default plunder * British settlements that are not ready to resist them, AKB WE WORTH ATTACKING ? : The bullion in the banks would be a ricb prize, as has been noted in Russian newspapers', which have lately pub- / lished tbo Colonial Bank returns, but • the bullion, in the bank, would by no means be neceseavily (he measure of the subsidy required. Moreover, the destruction of shipping and of stores, the interruption of commerce, the collapse of works and of public Rnd private credit, could only be remedied by limb , and by the imposition of heavy taxation. I once asked sn eminent merchant what he would do under these circumstances, and he said, " Well, it might happen, and if it did I think I should arrange -my Bffairs as well as I could, and move off to safer quarters." I said, " would it not be wiser to pay a Binall -; insurance in the form of defence, and make things safe ?" Remember, too, that to pay subsidies and run some is the surest way to iu.?ite future visits. It is a policy as fallacious as it is die- j graceful ; it has ever had tbe same vesultj it is like offering a premium for robbery. And s further, bear in mind that,. bayjng once bought experience, people.would faise an .outcry for defence, for locking the door after the purse.; was stolen, and vtry little left wherewith to buy a lock. LIKELY POINTB OF ATTACK. I hold Hobart Town and King George's Sound (au opinion which is . shared in by high military authority at Home) to be most liable to attack on account of their strategical position,. and I have Dot failed to bring this circumstance under the consideration of tbe Imperial authorities. I hold these two positions to be tbe most important strategical ones in Australia, and the occupation and fortification of Hobart Town on of King George's Sound, which could be made almost impregnable,,would entail great efforts and an immense expenditure for their recovery. I hope that our delegates at the ap. proaching Australian conference will ' bring the subject of defensive federation before it, for the. hostile occupation of Hobart Town or ot King George's Sound would, in the very highest degree, affect the interests of all Aub- . trail's, Ido not, under present circumstances, anticipate 88 at all probable or possible, an attempt at such an occupation, but nevertheless ifc were wise to provide against it. Colonel Scratcbley, E.E., B*id to me a few days ago that he considered .that Hobart Towu was the most likely place in the Australian Colonies to be attacked, aud at my request he authorised me publicly to quote that opinion. CAN ¥B DEFEND OURSELVES ? In the opinion of the most competent authorities, of Sir W. Jervois and Colonel Scratehley, we can, against such a foe as is likely to molest us, or rather, in my opinion, as would be likely were we unprepared, for auch vessels will not, I think, run serious risks at a distance from any friendly harbor, affording means for refit; and moreover, we mßy confidently rely upon •England being ready to a&Bist those Colonies especially which help themselves, as she has already done in the case of Victoria. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. Some may say, bb I have heard it said, "but in the event of a fight we would torn out to a man," but unfortunately a custom prevails of hanging or ehootingany persons not in the uniform of a; regularly^enrolled corps who jaiay tja,/ taken. , in, ,armß,.- and ,in the French war the Prussians, by no meahs pn uncivilised enemy, io euch cases

shot hostages selected by lofc from among the unarmed inhabitants, when they could not or would uot deliver up those who had so fired on them, aud levied extra contributions besides. At Bazeilles they gave up the village to the flames, and men, women, and children perished or were slain. THE DUTIES OF VOLUNTEERS. Undisciplined meD, acting on their own devices, might often be as much or more in the way of friends rs of foes, and no Government would be justified in entrusting them with arms unless put under strict control io purely defensive positions. I doubt not the men's bravery, but I would moßt strongly impress upou volunteers that though our race is a fighting race, it is one singularly impatient of control ; and therefore I say that obedience and strict discipline and respect to officers is the first and most essential requisite. You may shoot well, you may drill well, you may march well, but unless you bring to your woik strict discipline and unquestioning nnd implicit obedience, you are a powerful piece of machinery under no control, Bnd consequently utterly useless. You may be sure there is no man who doB9 not better \ himself by gaining that self-control which is necessary for discipline and obedience ; more especially if he gives that obedience because it ia a selfimposed duty, possibly to one in many respects his inferior. And if this is a lesson to men, so also, morally as well aa physically, it is a valuable training ing for boys, and I wish nil our schoofs would have cadet corps. I would give every encouragement in my power to them. When I speak of discipline and drill, I do not want undue attention and time given to what I call show drill. You must drill to become perfeet in the handling and use of your weapons, and you must drill .in order that you yourselves may be readily and easily moved and I andled, for all auch purposes as ure likely to be practically useful; this attained, I advise much practice in the actual operations, and on the actual ground where you might be cnlleil into action, and I strongly urge the institution of ao annual camp. . There is another point that I wish to impress npon those of my hearers who are about to take part in the voluntfer movement. Very much depends, almost everything depends upon the officers. Now a man is not neceesari y fitted to be an officer because he is a gentlemanly man, a good fellow, or even a valuable member of society. These qualities may be advantages, but what is above all wauted is a man who can. unite firmness with tact, who possesses coolnees and nerve, fwho has good Bense. and military nptitude, and who will give up his lime to study and learn his work thoroughly. A volunteer officer ought indeed to be an enthusiast at his work, and should any officer neglect the duties that be has voluntarily assumed, I should certainly advise him to resign, or approve his dismissal. I want you to make tlie thing, a reality — (cheers). If it is not a reality, better have nothing at all to do with ii, and I tell you you cannot make it a reality without earnest work, discipline and diligence for the men, painstaking exertions for the officers. Difficulties will arise, this and that may at first go wrong, but patience, forbearance, and public spirit must smoothe down obstacles, and pave the way to success.