THE POWDER MAGAZINE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4774, 11 July 1876, Page 2

THE POWDER MAGAZINE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. SIE, —I was pleased to see a letter in your columns again drawing attention to the powder magazine. Within the last few years the neighborhood of the magazine has become the most thickly peopled part of the city. It is therefore a matter of urgency that the magazine should be removed to the old position at Magazine Point, from which it was shifted, for greater security, during the Maori war. During the last week not less than 730 casks of gunpowder have arrived in Wellingtop. What the stock before this addition was made to it I do not know, but I think I am under the mark if I put the present stock at 1000 casks gunpowder, besides dynamite andammunition. The recent disastrous explosions at the Cape, at Salt Lake, and at Jersey City, will seem quite insignificant affairs when compared with the Wellington catastrophe, should the magazine blow up. It is not long since an explosion on board a barge, partly laden with gunpowder, wrecked that part of London north of the Regent's Canal. In that case the canal company was held liable for the damage ; but it should not be forgotten that should the claims against the canal company have failed, the insurance companies were prepared to dispute their liability. It is a matter of importance to owners of property in Wellington, and to those interested in mortgages, to see that this risk is covered by a special endorsement upon their insurance policies. I say nothing about the loss of life further than that many of the people whose lives woul'l be sacrificed have cost the Government £ls a-head. The Government is further directly interested as a life insurer.

Since the removal of the magazine rests with the Government, I hope our city members will press the matter.—l am, &c,