STATE OF THE NAVY.—THE "PRESERVED MEATS."

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 641, 5 June 1852, Page 3

STATE OF THE NAVY.— THE "PRESERVED MEATS."

[Frrai the Times, Janua'U 1O."| If disasters are destined for this country in its mililary and naval operations, they will, at least, not arrive without warning. The visitations of the last year have been absolutely ominous. As if to show us the futility of the resources on which we are relying, our ships have broken down, our stores have been condemned, our firearms have proved useless, and our soldiers are found incapacitated by their equipments from encountering half their number of naked savages. It would be hard to overlook such tokens of evil. If, with all our vaunted wealth and skill, we cannot send reinforcements lo the Cape without miscairiages, or victual our vessels without peril of pestilence, what is to become of us in the face of such hostiliiies as men now living can well remember, and may see again. The war at the Cape is, or at least was, reputed lo be almost beneath the dignity of so powerful a Slate as Great Britain. H was a mere colonial embroilment manufactured between Lord Grey, the settlers, and the Cadres. Even as things arc now going, we have but 10,000 men there, and, though this is a prodigious force for ils presumptive duties, yet it is not a large army to feed with men and munitions. The detachments sent lo Sir Harry Smith arc not above 600 or 700 strong, and these are only forwarded at intervals of some months. Certainly such duties ought not to weigh oppressively on '• establishments" like durs. We have been at the monstrous expense to create a "steam navy" of the highest character and power. Year after year, when the estimates provoked the expostulations of even reasonable reformers, we were met by the assertion, that the element of steam was altogether new, and that the whole work had lo be done from (lie beginning. We built new steam docks, new steam factories, and new steam yards. We built steamers of wood and steamers of iron, and lavished enormous sums on experimentalising with engines, funnels, swivel guns, and fuel. At last we were told that (he outlay was approaching its close, and that we had fairly established a splendid steam marine. We have now put this marine lo a trial, and under circumstances of the easiest kind. As we are at peace wilh all (he world except native I Africans, our transport ships arc not encumbered \tifh any means of defence or compelled to ; assemble in comoys. Wo wanl only a single steamer at a lime, to carry about two-thirds of the living load for which she is nominally con-

struct ed, and for this purpose she might tivembark (hose heavy guns which were invariably made the scapegoats of Admiralty mishaps. These arc no very arduous duties, but, such as they are, they cannot be propeily peifoimod. It will be said, perhaps, that we are making rather too much of an accident. If the Mcgajra did not break down on Saturday, she was fit for sea again by Wednesday ; and what is there outrageous in a casualty like this? The remark might ha\e some force if the failure of the Mcgacra was the only failure, or if it had manifestly proceeded from nothing but the violence of (he weather. But the Vulcan fared no better, and with such difliculty, after all, did she make her voyage that, as the reader will remember, rumours were actually current of her total loss. Moreover the condition of the Megaera at starting has been described by eye witnesses as such that what occurred might almost have been matter of prediction. As if, even in this time of peace, our navy were too small for the exigencies of the sen ice, the steamer in question was made a store ship as well as a troop ship ; and all the space which should have been devoted to the accommodation and security of the soldiers was bespoken for heavy stores despatched by the Ordnance. The vessel, in consequeucc, was so overladen and incumbered as to exhibit a scene of the most perfect confusion, notwithstanding the excellent discipline of the corps, and, if she encounter such weather as seems most probable, it may be necessary to throw the cargo overboard for the sake of the crew Such is our "steam navy " One steamer is charged with the work of two, and breaks down under the trial. Our " establishments" are even worse — worse in cost and worse in returns. Some person or persons, not having the fear of the "First Lord" before their eyes, have been " indiscreet" enough to certify that a very large consignment of provisions, stowed away in our victualling stores, was absolutely unfit for human consumption. Matters have even proceeded so far that the fact is proved beyond denial, and 6,000 canisters of " preserved" meats, laid up for the sustenance of our sailors in time of need, are found to be nothing but so many cases of the most horrible garbage. No doubt the unlucky ollicer who made this discovery will forfeit all " claim to confidence" and be held incapable of future employment. But after the Admiralty has pronounced its own sentence the public at large will pronounce theirs, and they will demand an inquiry upon those officials through whose neglect, incapacity, or curruption, such an abominable fraud was successfully perpetrated. Who advised or sanctioned the purchase of (his "meat?" Who received it, examined it, and sent it into the stores? Is there any officer whose duty it is lo see that biscuit is biscuit and beef is beef? Who compared the consignment with the samples? aud on whose report did the " contractor" receive good money for his garbage ? The answer lo these questions mubt be given without evasion or delay. And now that the " indiscretion" of this exposure has been actually committed, we must take the liberty of suggesting that the warning is 100 signal lo be lost. Who is to certify that in our enormous accumulation of stores there are no other provisions or materials in the same slate of "preservation" as these delectable " meals ?" Who will stand surety for our Hour, our lea, our coffee, our sugar, our rice, our cocoa, our beef, our pork, or any of those goods which the " Commissioners for executing Ihe oflice of Lord High Admiral" periodically lay in by "contract?" For the value of these stores we do not see that we have any other security than that which has just been tested in the case of " Goldner's preserves," and avc insist, therefore, that an examination of the most rigorous kind shall be instituted in the track of that which has now produced such startling results. This is not a subject on which we can afford lo be tender with official dignitaries. It may involve the very salvation of the country, for when the time of need arrives — a time which by making these >cry provisions we profess to anticipate — there may be little opportunity of amending an error or replacing a loss. At the present moment a stock of 100,0001bs, of meat not absolutely indispensable to the efficiency of our fleet, but it might possibly have supplied (he only stores of this kind at hand for a squadton proceeding lo sea. Let us make the best of our warning, and ascertain forthwith, by unsparing scrutiny, the actual slate of our a establishments" in all particulars. Nobody can doubt, it will be said, the merits of our superintendents. Very likely not; but nobody doubled, till the other day, that Mr. Goldner s canisters contained sweet and wholesome meats. Now that the suspicions of the country have been fairly aroused, they must be met by a prompt and rigorous investigation. Perhaps it will be no easy matter to discover why our Government steamers are often unseaworlhy and always slow; why they always break down, and invariably are twice as long as they should be on their voyages ; but we may at any rale assure ourselves (hat all the articles we have bought and paid for are what they pretend to be. Not a day must be lost in extending to every department of Admiralty and Ordnance stores the inquiry which has proved so fruitful at the Portsmouth Victualling-office during Ihe past week. Lei us know our position without further uncertainty or disguise. If all is as it ought to be, well and good ; if not, let us right ourselves while there is yet lime, let us punish the guilty, and exercise a greater vigilcnce for the future.

To Hie Editor of the Times. Sir, — I am glad to see you have taken the " preserved meat" in hand, and I hope you will call on (he Admiralty — 1. For the date of the contract, and by whom it was signed ; 2. For the terms of the contract, and whether it was specified what per cenlage of cases were to be opened on being received into store ; 5. Whose duty it was to open them, and if they performed it ; and A. If any security was given, and what, for the due performance of (he contract. It may, perhaps, be alleged that to open the cases would injure (he meat, and (hat no contractor would submit to such terms. If this, sir, is the case, no contract ought to have been made at all, but if made, the security should have been so high that no loss would fall on the Government, which would have been some consolation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; but what consolation will it be to Sir John Franklin and his gallant crew, if when reduced to the last extremity, they found their reserve unlit for human food ? I remain, sir, your obedient servant, Charles Napieu. Merchisloun, Jan. 8.

Which will you take"! — Selecting books is in one way, like culling flowers. We are quite likely to be deceived by bright colours and showy qualities. Some of the lea \t fragrant flowrs have the richest hues, ami tbose that charm the eye may poison the blood. A single false sentiment taken into the mindfiom au attiactive annual or picture story, may mislead us fill our days. Let our young friends, or those wlio select for them, be careful that what they cull from tho valious flower-gardens they may visit, is aspnfe and valuable as it is gaudy. Poisonous leaves have many gilt edges.