DEFENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5416, 6 August 1878, Page 2

DEFENCE.

' TO TUB EDITOR OC THE, NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —I have to-day been shown a copy of some printed papers on the defence ( of the colony, laid before Parliament. It. is not my intention now to criticise all these precious documents, but I cannot help thinking how astonished the Imperial War Office authorities must have been to receive such a proposition as that contained in the first of these papers, wherein Colonel Whitmore ■ asks that the seven-ton guns shall be fitted to such gun-carriages as will enable them to be transported to different parti of the several harbors by adequate horse-poweit Now, sir, can you picture to yourself, in the event of any attack, Colonel Whitmore at-the head of an impromptu trasport corps attempting toraoveabout guns weighing seven tons ! Why, sir, the thing is a farce ; and if the colony is to depend upon such judgment as this for our defence, it would have been far better that the Government had left the matter alone, as, depend upon it, these guns would .simply fall an easy proy to an enemy, and be used against

Sir, I hope a "stand will be made by the members during this session, and in spite of the colony having deliberately insulted Sir W. Jervois and Colonel Scratohley at the hands of the present Ministry, that they will insist upon the Government procuring a thorough examination of the -several harbors of the colony by some competent authority (a task rendered all the more difficult from the action taken by Sir George Grey),before any of these guns are placed in position at all. The guns, X see, together ; with a small supply of ammunition now ordered, it appears, are to cost about £IO,OOO ; the mounting of these, no doubt, as much more ; and then whore is the force to work and defend them ? .

I shall watch for the proposals of, the Government in this direction, and probably, if you will kindly give mo space in your paper, address you again on the subject.—l am, &0., ■ Artilleryman.