COLONIAL DEFENCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5243, 12 January 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

COLONIAL DEFENCES.

(From the Press, of January 8.) • Our Australian neighbors are taking time by the forelock. Alarmed by the recent telegrams, which point to the probability of England becoming involved in the Turco-Russian war, they are bestirring themselves actively with measures for self •defence. And they are wise in so doing. The position of affairs in Europe is certainly ominous. We still see reason to hope that Great Britain will escape being drawn into war ; but it is evident' that she is near the verge,. and that a step or two further may commit her inevitably to the fatal plunge. In these circumstances the Australian colonies think it time to be in readiness. In Victoria they are especially alert. Unfortunately, the plan recommended by Colonel Jervois, which was agreed to by the Government and the money appropriated by the Legislative Assembly, became the subject of a misunderstanding between the two Houses, and has fallen through in consequence. But the Government seem determined to do the best they can. We heard the other day that the commanders of. the land forces and of the floating battery, the Cerberus, have at-' tended a Cabinet meeting to advise Ministers as to the defence of the colony ; and now we learn that they are using all the gun cotton procurable in the manufacture of torpedoes, to be laid down in the channel for the protection of the harbor. It is evident that the Victorian Government do not mean to be taken by surprise. If they cannot carry out • the whole of the measures recommended, they will accomplish all that is practicable. Whatever happens, Melbourne will be well prepared. Meanwhile, what is New Zealand doing! As usual, nothing at all. The two Imperial officers were engaged to report on the defence of the harbors of the colony, but their services have since been dispensed with. A correspondence took place on this subject just before the close of the session, and, by the desire of the Governor, was submitted to the Assembly. Towards the end of November the Governor received a letter from Sir W. Jervois, announcing his intention to visit New Zealand in December, and suggesting that it would be convenient it the Hinemoa were sent to fetch him from Hobarton. The Governor forwarded the letter to Ministers, who replied shortly that the Hinemoa was wanted at home, and could not be sent to Hobarton. On the 29th November Sir W. Jervois telegraphed to ask if the Hinemoa could be placed at his disposal during January for the purpose of visiting the several ports. Ministers again replied with a curt negative. The Hinemoa was required for other purposes, was all they condescended to answer. It was not until the Government took exception to the extreme discourtesy with whiclt they were treating Sir W. Jervois that their real object was made known. They did not wish him to come at all. The state of the finances compelled them to avoid expenditure as much as possible, and they were satisfied that New Zealand" could not afford to incur any largo expenditure for the protection of its harbors. They further alleged the extraordinary reason that a native war was to be apprehended. The colony, they informed his Excellency, might with but little warning have to make provision for resisting an internal enemy ; and any, funds : available, for. defensive , purposes ought to be employed in providing against the internal ■ foe, in confident trust that the fleets of Great Britain would be a, sure protection against foreign aggression. They therefore requested that such a communication might be made to Sir W. Jervois as would be the means of postponing his visit to New Zealand. The Governor seems to have felt much annoyed by

this request, He p'aihly gave Ministers his opinion that the decision they had come to was “ one which is little calculated to raise the credit of the colony abroad.” Of course, however, he had no option but to act on his Ministers’ advice ; and so the promised visit and report of Sir W. Jervois are postponed sine die. There are two things to be noticed in this correspondence. The first is the marked incivility of Ministers. Whatever may be thought of Sir W. Jervois’ desire that the steamer should be sent for him to Hobarton, his request that he might have the use of it while inspecting the harbors was perfectly reasonable. The style in which the Government'conveyed their'refusal was simply disgraceful. The offence seems to be that the request was addressed to the Governor, not to the Premier. Sir G. Grey’s animosity against the Governor is so great that it betrays itself on the smallest occasions. Directly he comes into communication with his Excellency, his temper and manners desert him at once. It is most humiliating to the colony that a'public man who occupies the highest official position in the country cannot transact any ordinary business without discrediting himself by an exhibition of petty personal jealousy. The other noticeable point is the nature of the reasons assigned for declining the proposed visit. The Hinemoa, says Sir G. Grey, is wanted for other purposes, Eor what purposes ? We all know how the Hinemoa was engaged last month. She carried Sir George from Wellington to Napier to Auckland,,' and to the, Thames, and is bringing him; back via Tauranga and Poverty Bay. He is next to come to the Middle Island, begin- 1 niug with the West Coast. This is the service! for which the Government steamer was re- ! served—to carry the Premier’ bn a sort oh electioneering tour, fa) tho course of which he might display himself in the chief towns, and be the object of popular demonstrations, all with the view of the political capital to be made for next session, and the subsequent dissolution. We are not' suprised that, when asked in the House how the Hinemoa was; about 1 to be engaged, he : was, unable—let us hope ashamed-—to auswer.' Then, again, as to. the natives. ■ How can Sir G. Grey reconcile his allusion to.the probability of a Nativewar with Mr. Sheehan’s statement ? Mr.; Sheehan,'speaking officially as Native Minister, in the broadest terms declared his conviction that there was no' longer any reason' tofear a native war. Even iu the King country itself he did hot think it would be possible to - raise a force against the Europeans. He’ wished this to be generally known. Yet here; we have Sir G. Grey referring to the war ms' an event that may occur at any moment, and describing the natives as an internal enemy: ■against whom- the colony needs all the funds available for defensive purposes, to protect itself. The two statements'are irreconcilable. Unless Mr. Sheehan deliberately misrepre-,-sented the state of 1 things to the House, this memorandum of Sir. G. Grey’s, written in the name of Ministers, contains a distinct falsehood.

The fact ia that the reasons assigned by the Government are mere pretences. They did not wish Sir W. Jervoia to come to New Zealand, but had riot the courage to say so outright; and they therefore endeavored to get rid of him by indirect means. They could have done nothing more stupid, nothing worse for themselves or for the country. Had' they openly stated that there was rio money at present available for defensive works, and that the procuring of -a report without meaning to give effect to it was in their judgment a useless expense, their conduct would at all events have been straightforward.- Even those who did not agree with them would have allowed that they were acting on definite and intelligible grounds, ' But as it is, every one concerned ia made to look ridiculous. By first trying to snub their unwelcome visitor, and then putting him off with excuses which, on their own showing, are without foundation, they have presented 1 themselves before the public in a contemptible light, and, what is worse, have damaged the reputation of the colony. i:i ' ' *