THE Otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam aut faciam." FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 60, 24 January 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam aut faciam." FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1862.

Our. Melbourne correspondent's letter, clearly establishes the fact that serious apprehensions are felt there that War has actually been declared between England and America. Transatlantic goods and wares are rising in price in Melbourne; cotton manufactures are held for an advance in Adelaide ; the Banks have received telegraphic advices that their correspondents have deemed it necessary to insure against the risks of war, and it is supposed that the Victorian Government have official intelligence of a nature yet more conclusive, since it proposes to at once place Williamstown in a state of defence. We trust, and iml-ed we K-lieve, that these are sinv.ly precautionary measures, —that the probabilities are against war, —but it must be remembered, that contingencies are important, nut only in proportion to the likelihood of their occurrence, but in reference to the events to which they bear a relation. Thus a person takes all kind of precautionary measures to guard against fire, although the Insurance Office estimates the risk at only one per cent. The odds against the occurrence may he said to be one hundred to one, yet so serious would be the result arising from a conflagration that persons take as much care to «v id it as they would were the chances equally balanced in an occurrence of lesser iroment. Now, supposing we admit that the odds are one hundred to one against a declaration of war, and in the event, of that declaration, of a sudden and immediate descent upon Austrnlia and N Tew Zenlund by a privateering expedition from California, the consequences of such an occurrence would be so serious, that notwithstanding the long odds against it, very stringent preonntionarv measures should be taken to avoid it. Within twelve days of England's declaring war the intelligence will reach California, via New York, by the Great Salt Lake line of tclcjrapb lately completed The Californian ports swarm with fine large ships and enterprising captains not averse to filibustering, expeditions: and what more attractive to them than a visit to some of the golden cities of Australia- and New Zealand. The latter, from its position, would be likely to be the earliest visited, and the first intelligence of the war may be brought by a hostile ship. Let us siy the chances are a hundred, or five hundred'to one a^iin^t it. but think howserious the consequences, and how bitterly they would he deplored. We do not allude to the actual loss, that though serious we would estimate of less consequence than the allowing the enemy of Great Britain to achieve a success in a Colony that should be able to render, rather than to require, assistance.

There is not one Colony of the Empire that should he less liable to a surprise of the kind. Besides the lame military force at its disposal, there are several ships of-war on the station. All that is required is oriranisatinn. In this respect Otago, and its chief port Dunetlin, are stnrtlinsrly deficient. With every facility at hand for defence, an enemy might come to Dunedin and find it utterly helpless. We cannot too strongly urge oh those with whom the conduct of the public safety rests, to take immediate steps to provide for it. A volunteer force shonhl at once be embodied, and placed in active drill. A Code of signals should be arranged for ships entering the ports of the Province from the other ports of the colony, and from the neighbouring colonies. We believe at a very trifling expense the Heads coulrLbe fortified. 'Steps should be taken towards (loins this, as -well ns for procuring rifles and ammunition.. If it has been thought necessary to fortify Williamstown, surely it is prudent to do something of the sam? to the entrance to Dunedin. Above all things, it is required that the Province should be placed in rapid and frequent communication with the seat of Government, without constant reference to which nothing can be done At present the communication is only monthly. Auckland might be burnt to the ground, and the Southern' Provinces know nothing of it for a month. The General Government will not be in possession of the English News for some time yet, and when the information reaches it, it will have no Steamer "at its command, to dispatch to the other . Provinces, however much it may require one. We cannot but. consider the emergency sufficient to 'justify Mr. Header Wood in chartering a fast Steamer, such as the Lady Bird, which arrived •yesterday. She would reach Auckland before the English Mails, via Sydney, and-before the Lord Worsley, which left here two or three days ago,' but which has to make calls and stoppages all along the const, and Sir George Grey would have the advantage of a, fast Steamer, by which to despatch what directions he deemed necessary, for the safety of the Colony.