Major Cautley to Visit the Bay of Islands. Auckland, April 20.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 3

Major Cautley to Visit the Bay of Islands. Auckland, April 20.

The mystery regarding the whereabouts of the Hinemoa was cleared up at 10 o'clock yesterday morning by her arrival here with the torpedo boat in tow. The Hinemoa left Wellington on Tuesday night last, her intention on loaving Port Nicholson being to proceed up the West Coast to theManukau. Major Cautley, however, who, withLieutenantDouglasandMrSmyth,wasa passenger, informed Captain Fairchild that he was desirous of reaching the Bay of Islands at as early a date as possible, and it was decided to come up the East Coast. When the Hinemoa left Wellington the weather was fine, and the torpedo boat, pecured to the steamer's stern by three manilla hawsers, towed easily. At the East Cape a strong north-east gale, with a heavy sea, was experienced, and it being feared that the weather would prove too much for the plucky little " death dealer " tossing so cockily astern, it was decided to take shelter under Cape Runaway. The weather moderating, another start was made, but when well out into the Bay of ' Plenty the gale again increased, tho sea [being described as "something terrible" The vossol lay to for many hours, and as she was drifting towards Tauranga, Captain Fairchild hoped to be able to get shelter at that port. She drifted noarJy ono hundrod miles," and on approaching Tauranga Harbour tho bar was found to be quite impracticable— it has not been so bad for three years. Getting the steamer undorway, the captain shaped his course for Mayor Island, and after a struggle with tho adverse wind, got under its sheltering lee. In a few hours the wind again moderated, and another stage of the iournoy was made, when the freshening of tho breeze compelled the captain to shelter in Port Charles, which was reached at G p.m. on Saturday, and yesterday morning she came on to Auckland. Captain Fairchild reports that the three-masted steamer soen oil' Makotu was tho Hinemoa, he having gone there with the object of reporting "all well," and allaying any fears that might have boon experienced through the non arrival of the vessel at her destination.

The Hinomoa's Passengers. ThedofenceofFicerswhohavecomeupmthe Ilinemoa will have a busy time during their stay in the North. Major Cautley to-day inspected the fortifications at the North Head, and we understand that he is highly pleased at the onergetic manner in which Messrs Bell and Vickerman have carried out the duties confided to them. Major Cautley will, in company with Mr Smyth and Captain Douglas, inspect all the approaches to Auckland Harbour with the view of deciding a plan for the laying of the submarine mines. It U more than probablo that this species of dofonco will be by means of a line of mines from the North Head to Bean Rock. The mines will bo exploded by means of electric ity. A small passage between the mines will be left for navigation, and no vessels will be permitted to leave or enter port without a pilot. During his stay in Auckland, Major Cautley will put up at tho Northern Club

Defence of Bay of Islands. According to the present programme, Major Guutloy and his coadjutors will spend about three days in Auckland, and will then leave by the Jlinemoa for the Bay of Islands His Excellency having expressed a desire that a report should bo furnished to him concerning the advisability of placing a lino of mines across the entrance to the Bay. During this journey to the northwards, the harbours oE the (ircat Barrier Island and Whangarei harbour will be visited, Major Cautloy being desirous of reporting on the chancea of these unprotected harbours being used by hostile cruisers.

The Prospective War ami the Coal Supply. It seems to bo tho opinion of the defenco authorities that in case of war breaking out the first act of a hostile cruiser would b6 to obtain a supply of coal. Tho capture of a couple of colliers bound from either Westport or Bay of Islands to Auckland might easily bo accomplished ; they could then be sent to some out of-the-way harbour on tho coast, which could be used as a temporary coaling station and base of operations. Besides this source of a coal supply, it is seen that there are other sources from which a hostile cruiser might obtain its fuel. ' At the present moment, for instance, the Union S.S. Company has 4,000 tons of coal now afloat in transit from Newcastle to several New Zealand ports. While writing on the matter of coal supplies it may be interesting to mention that tho Governor has recently been making inquiries regarding the coal ordinarily kept in hulks in our principal ports, and the following is said to bo the information under '' this head that he has received : — Auckland, ( 1,000 tons; Wellington, 3,ooo tons ; Lyttel- ! ton, 1,00.) ; and Port Chalmers between J 1,000 and 1,500 tons. The most coal that l could be got from the Bay of Islands in one | day without notice is 125 tons— tho railway trucks available will not bring down more ? in a day. Several of the Union boats have l taken in a much larger supply than this in ( one day, but in these cases notice has J , always boon previously given. On one ! occasion II M.jS. Nelson took in 1,000 tons J at tho Bay of Islands, but a week was ! occupied in coaling. (

The Torpedo Boat. Tho torpodo boat brought up by the Hinotnoa is a beautifully-mado littlo vessel, the wonderful intricacy of the mechanism, and the accuracy with which oach part performs tho work required of it, being an evidonce of the groat attention given by inventors of late years to the manufacture of fcho.se vessels. Tho boat ia built of steel plate workod to such a degree of thinness that the vessel's side nny bo bent in vrith tho pressure of tho thumb, tier length is 63 f jet, beam S feet, and draught 4^ feet. She is divided into seven compartments, each having automatic appliances for the discharge of water. She is fitted for! manipulation of a " spar torpodo." This engino of destruction is fitted at the end of an iron spar which pr >J3cts from the bow of the boat. When the torpedo comes in contact with the side of tho hostilo vessel,it will momentarily ex plode with tho concussion, and can knock ! daylight through the bottom of the strong-o-.b vo3sel afloat. When the boat reached town her boiler was full of water, in which r here was some soda. This keeps the inside of the boiler from rusting, tier speed is 18 miles an hour— (not 18 knots as has been stated elsewhere), and her engines at full speed make 700 revolutions per minu c. A fan for blowing the engine fire makes 1,400 revolutions per minute. The Hinemoa has brought up an engineer for the torpedo boat. Men are now being instructed in Wellington in tho management of torpedoes, and it is tho i intention of tho Government to distribute > them throughout the. colony ta form the

. nuclei of local torpedo corps, The torpedo boat made her maiden trip on the waters > of the Waitemata this forenoon.

A Cheap Torpedo Fleet. During the past few days, at the request of His Excellency the Governor, the Marine Department has prepared a list of all the steamers in the colony under 30 tons measurement, with their speed, port, etc.^ and other particulars regarding them. It is the j intention of the defence authorities, immediately on the breaking out; of hostilities, to metamorphose this steamer "mosquito fleet" into torpedo boats. Some will be really armed with spars and torpedoes, while others will be ehams. Regulations are now being drafted in Wellington for tho management of these launches and the part that they will play in tho harbour defences. Immediately on the signalling of a cruiser every vessel will get up steam, and should the land defence be passed, the stranger will find himself assailed on all sides by torpedo boats. The sham boats will draw the iire from the genuine "hull smashers," and it is believed that any hostile vessel coming; into the principal harbours of the colony will meet with a very warm reception from the mosquito fleet, quite apart from all other methods oi defence, We understand that the Governor's list includes twelve launches and small steamers belonging to the port of Auckland. His Excellency, we are assured from an authoritative source,is very anxious respecting the progress of the Auckland defences, believing that of all the colonial ports it is most likely to be the first attacked. Wellington would probably come next.

The Coptic and the Kaikoura. Tho announcement in our issue of Satur day last that the Imperial Government had ! secured the Coptic and the Kaikoura as armed cruisers for New Zealand and Australian waters caused quite a sensation during Saturday night, the general opinion appearing to bo that, despite the peaceful nature of the news that has reached us during the past few days, there is somethingdecidedly bellicose in the background ; indeed, that the British Government were ready to fight, and had determined to force Russia to the dread arbitrament of war. The interest taken in the Coptic, now in port, was consequently very strong, andlarge numbers of persons visited her yesterday. The Coptic is of 4,368 tons gross measurement, and is 430 feet long, 42 feet beam, and 24 feet depth of hold. She has two double cylindered engines of 450 horsepowor nominal, but which are capable of indicating some 3,500 horse power. She has five ports on each side, constructed expressly tor puns. We are informed by a competent naval authority that the cost of preparing her for a cruiser will be fully £10,000. The Kaikoura is slightly larger than the Coptic, and has 4,000 indicated horse power. It is stated that the anna ment for both vessels is now on its way to Sydney, at which port they will probably bo prepared for their now career. We aro glad to learn that the agents for the s.s. Coptic (Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co.) have made satisfactory arrangements with shippers from this port respecting the outward cai'go. The gum haa been shipped, as was originally intended, and arrangements will be made in tho South for its transhipment to a Londonbound steamer.

The North Head Defences. The works are now so well advanced that the engineers have been able to congideiably reduce the number of hands engaged. The iron " racers," on which the guns will travel, were made last week at Messrs Fraser and Tinno's Pba>nix Foundry, a good deal of overtime being worked to ensure tliem being ready in time. Messrs Fraser and Tinno have turned out an exceedingly creditable job. The intense interest taken by the people of Auckland in connection with these defences was exemplified yesterday afternoon by the fact that iully 5,000 people yesterday made pilgrimages to the North Head. The Dcvonport Ferry Company had three boats running all the afternoon, and had there been additional boats plying,a much greater number of people would have journeyed across. As it was, the boats were unpleasantly crowded, and at 4 o'clock the North Head was literally alive with people.

The Militia. To day the police authorities made a start at the preparation of tho first-class Militia Roll. It is expected that it will take several weeks to compile. London, April 19.

Admiral Tryon and Colonial Defence Admiral Tryon has been directed to visit the several ports in the Australian Colonies to confer with the authorities on the subject of their defence.