The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 244, 25 September 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.

During a lecture recently delivered in Dunedin. Captain Scott, R.N., made some very interesting remarks regarding the defences of the Colony. Capt. Scott, after speaking generally of the necessity of measures being taken for the adequate defence of the Colony, went on to refer to the most economic and efficient means for meeting any sudden attack. This was to be found, he believed, in the torpedo, by the use • of which and the submarine mine all the busiest seaports might be closed to the most formidable ironclads. As General Scratchley in his report said, “ Submarine torpedoes can in favourable situations be laid permanently on the actual spots where they are required and arrangements can be made for firing these mines with facility. There need, therefore, now be no fear that torpedoes will not be effective against ships attempting to force the entrance to a port, provided always that they are protected by artillery fire so as to prevent their removal by the enemy.” The mines spoken of were mines fired by electricity, and would merely need to have the wire led to a sheltered case or room cut into the Sandhills to be ready for applying the lighting torch at a moment’s notice. We already possessed two of the small size of torpedo boats, which were available to protect submarine mines at Taiaroa Head, and they could prevent vessels coming within some miles of the entrance to the harbour by night, and thus a wide space could be kept for the passage of merchant steamers. In a day attack these could be supplemented by ordinary steamers. In regard to the defence of the city from bombardment, he quoted from General Scratchley's report : “ I do not think there need be any serious apprehension of the result of a bombardment, but shells would doubtless do some damage. At the same time the erection of two batteries —one for three guns at Lawyer’s Head to the east, and the other for two guns on the west of the beach (at the cliffs) —would be the most effectual way of keeping the enemy’s ships at such a distance from the shore as to render a bombardment impracticable. It would of course, be preferable to place powerful ordnance at these points, because the range is practically limited only by the power of the guns ; but as there are already three rifled guns available —one seven-inch and two 64-pounders —they might be mounted on Lawyer's Head, the provision of a second battery and more powerful armament being deferred until the future. If, how- |

ever, economy must be exercised in the matter, reliance could for the present be placed upon the light guns, with the field force which it is proposed to maintain at Dunedin, the sandhills along the beach affording admirable positions for them.'’ These were natural fortification; and as economy was important, and torpedoes could lie readily laid off the Ocean Beach at small cost, the light guns referred to would furnish protection against interference with the torpedoes, and would, when supplemented by the new fieldpieces, render landing almost madness.General Scratchley recommended for the defence of Nelson, Timaru, and similar places “that small bodies of riflemen, provided with field artillery, should fulfil the double purpose of keeping hostile vessels at a distance from the shore with their guns, and also of resisting predatory attacks on land, undertaken with the object of levying contributions.” He added, “ The fact of such organisations being in existence would probably be in itself a security against any attempt.” He thought all would agree with the General’s opinion that the defensive measures adopted for the New Zealand harbors should not be dependent upon chance, but they should be well considered and prepared beforehand in time of peace. He thought the establishment of a small gun-cotton factory with machinery for bullet and rocket making highly desirable, and the organisation which he would suggest for the defence of New Zealand was as follows: —(i) The enrolment of all the male population between the ages of eighteen and sixty who were desirous of acting as Volunteers. (2) Harbor Boards to be charged with defence preparations on water in combination with the Navals, the duty of laying out and keeping the torpedoes fit and ready for use being entrusted to the Board’s engineer and staff, assisted by the harbormaster and employes. (3) Light guns and stores to be provided for the mercantile marine of New Zealand, the ships and boats being fitted at Government cost. (4) Masters in command of New Zealand steamers to be given similar Colonial rank to those masters who are already enrolled in the British Naval Reserve; and immediately the crews are efficient in the use of their weapons, to give the masters the rank of commander in the New Zealand Naval Volunteer Force. (5) Sealed commissions to be prepared and pennants to be put on board all New Zealand steamers, ready for use on any declaration of war which might be first made known by an unexpected attack. (6) The ensigns of our mercantile fleet to have a Colonial quartering, such as the white horse of Hanover, or some other emblem, and the ships and their crews to be enrolled as a New Zealand defensive force; the British Government to be requested to direct the admiral commanding the Union Company’s ships and vessels on the Australian station to pass frequently from port to port, and to exercise his crew in feigned attacks upon each port in succession, the volunteer force acting as the defenders. In regard to other defensive preparations, they would require supplies of gun-cotton distributed in torpedoes. A few of the cheap but formidable rocket weapons of Remus could be made to sweep the whole surface of the water off the Ocean Beach clear of hostile craft. Another weapon still more formidable, and more portable, was the male war-rocket; and there was the fish-torpedo, which was available for either attack or defence. In conclusion, Captain Scott said he believed the Volunteers of the Colony were well able to defend this land against all invaders of the soil.—'(Applause.) He thought the Imperial authorities should be requested to aid in directing feigned attacks upon our ports, so that our Volunteers might become conversant with the details both of preventing a landing and hindering the advance of an enemy ; to accept the 7-inch and 64-pounder guns, with their stores and ammunition, as a reserve store for the men-of-war on this station, and to give us in exchange a few machine guns and ammunition, a supply of gun-cotton, either field guns or a supply of rifles; to enrol our mercantile marine as a naval volunteer force; and to give every encouragement to our national defence forces. The guns supplied some years’ since were of two small a power for permanent works such as fortresses, and the progress of science being in the direction of concealed defences, it was not advisable to proceed with exposed fortresses until, at any rate, the Colony is in a position to incur the expense of guns and ammunition of the power indicated by General Scratchlev.