The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5321, 16 April 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878.

At the Artillery Volunteer inspection at, Auckland, on the Bth instant,. the Colonial Secretary is reported to have said that in order to provide some hai-bor; defence for the colony the Government intended applying to the Imperial authorities for a number of 64-pourider rifled guns similar to those on board the Wolverine ; and that these guns in proper positions would make the harbor impregnable to cruisers. But Colonel Whitmore has not told us who is to decide as to the proper positions for such guns, nor has he alluded to the weapon most easily and effectually used in modern'defensive warfare —the torpedo.. Our.readers have not forgotten the recent action 1 of the present Government with regard to defences ; how the late Government had obtained from the Imperial authorities the services of two of the ablest military engineers of the day, to advise as to the best mode; of defending the ports ; and how the present Government had most curtly and rudely declined their services at the last moment; how, further, the Premier has taken credit to himself since for preventing any expenditure in this direction, and intimated that the colonies should depend entirely, on the British navy for defence. If Sir William Jervois and Colonel Soratchley had paid their intended visit to the chief New Zealand ports, ns'they would have done had not the Hinemoa been “required for other purposes,” the colony would by this time have been in possession, at very small cost, of the most authoritative advice as to the best moans of economically and effectively defending our harbors. We could then have adopted as much or as little of the proposed scheme as we had means to complete. But we should have had the satisfaction of feeling that we were not carelessly and recklessly throwing away money ; for to buy guns and build batteries without competent advice is generally; reckless waste of money, and 'we are not prepared to take, for instance, Colonel Whitmore, or any stray ox-military man, as a competent authority on such a subject. Sir 'War. J ervois and Colonel Soratchley are admittedly competent authorities, and have had a large experience in dealing with such questions. One- of the first things they did at Sydney, after carefully considering the. existing means of defence in the harbor of Port Jackson, was to condemn the position of the batteries which had been built there at great cost and on the best advice locally avail-: able. It appears, however, that the conditions of modern warfare-are so-changed' that the batteries which old military men; thought most .effectively., situated were really worse than useless. ■ , i -Now, it is'impossible*to'£uess at the; principles or probable policy of ,the present Government, because the statements of any two. of the Ministers seldom , if ever agree with each other. Are wo to provide only against “ internal enemies,”

and “ to trust confidently to the fleets of Great Britain” for defence against foreign enemies, according to tlie ignoble policy of Sir George Grey; or, are we to ask the Imperial 0 ' authorities for-sixty-four pounders'; as proposed-, by OoIoneIWHiTMOBB 1 If the latter policy is adopted we shall; be curious to read; the correspondence with the Imperial Government on the subject. The memorandum advising his Excellency to move the Imperial authorities would probable be somewhat to this effect

“ Ministers' present their respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby. They were not aware when they dispensed with the visit of Sir William Jervois to New Zealand that the colonists would exhibit so strong a feeling of self-reliance and self-respect as they appear to possess. They regret that the public should have agreed with the Governor' in regarding their reply to his memorandum on the subject of Sir William Jervois’ visit as curt. They wrote under a sense of great disappointment at the idea’that the Hinemoa should be used for other purposes than the proposed Ministerial progress through the colony; and without any desire to be discourteous they felt that the state of the finances of the colony was such that it was their duty ,to avoid expenditure except on party demonstrations and such pomp as befits the Premier’s position. But circumstances alter cases, and although Ministers still desire to rely almost entirely on the fleets of Great Britain for defence against a foreign enemy, they feel bound to give due weight to ; the expressions ot indignation which their attitude on this question have evoked. They desire, therefore, without withdrawing their confidence in the fleets of Great Britain, to expi’ess their further confidence in the generosity of the Ordnance Department. Any old guns or other war material which can be sent out will be thankfully received. But Ministers must courteously but firmly decline to accept advice as to the use of any guns' that may be presented to them. The acceptance of such advice might lead to a serious intention, on the part of volunteers and other misguided people to trust to thojr own efforts rather than to her Majesty’s fleet; and Ministers might be obliged to submit to Parliament some scheme for using the guns practically for the defence of our ports.

“Under all the circumstances, therefore, while regretting that they could not avail themselves of the valuable services of so distinguished an officer as Sir William Jervoxs, and that they must, if it is possible without any nncourteousness on their, part, deprecate the offer of any further advice on the defence question, Ministers would feel greatly obliged to the Governor if he. would make such a communication to the Home authorities as would satisfy the peojile and Parliament that they were'doing something.” This is all very well from the point of view ! of gentlemen who care very little for the credit of the colony. Even if they were snubbed for their pains by the Imperial authorities, they could make capital of the rebuff. How eloquent Sir George Grey would be on the insolence and want of consideration for the colonies that would be evinced in a point-blaiik refusal to present guns to a colony that had so lately, through its Government,, preferred the Premier’s comfort and convenience to the self-re-spect and safety of the State. But unfortunately for Ministers, and fortunately for the colony, volunteers and other misguided people are very much in earnest about defending , their principal ports. They do not desire to incur the loss and ignominy which might befall them if they were left; to' the mercy of any little cruiser that managed to dodge the British fleet. Such a cruiser; might, as we are now circumstanced, levy black mail on ns in a few hours by the threat of burning our town, without our being able to fire a shot in self-defence. Even Colonel Whitmore and his 64-pounder guns would be nowhere. Whereas if he had a well planned, scheme of defence, and torpedoes ready to be placed in position where necessary; we might laugh at any such efforts as the Hessians, or any other Power, would think it worth while to direct against our commercial ports; We shall be glad to hear more of these 64pounders,, and of the use to which they are to be put if they are obtained. In the meantime we would suggest that application be made to Commodore Hoskins to present some gun—say that handy little Gatling for the use of the Hinemoa. While this vessel is Sir George Grey’s yacht,; it is .right that ho should Imvo means of defence not only against external enemies—poisoners might resort to more, unguarded weapons than the medicated cup. ,