WAR HEWER IN AUCKLAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 6

WAR HEWER IN AUCKLAND.

Excellent progress continues to be made with tho North Head fortifications, though the number of men engaged thereon baa been reduced to 200. On Saturday, April 25, one of the 7-inch gunii was mounted on the Cheltenham Beach Battery, and it is expected that before tho end of the preoent week all the guna will be mounted. The magazine, of which there is ono to each gun, aro also in a stato approaching completion. They are about seveu feet square, with a height of eight feet The entrance will bo secured with heavy wooden doors, with bras 5 ? fitting?, uon hingos, lock*, &c , being discarded, in consequence of the danger from lightning. The l J oint .Resolution works are also expected to be completed by the end ot the current week. Captain Taylor and eighteen men of the Armed Constabulary wno have beon employed on road-making at Kawhia for over twelve months past anived here by train on April 29, and proceeded to North Shoro by ono of the ferry steamers at 10 a.m. They have instructions to remain there to aseist in the defence work now proceeding at the North Head, and to bn drilled.

The Command of the Auckland Fortifications. We have authority for stating that an officer of the Imperial army has been np pointed to the command of the Auckland Harbour defences. His name has not yet transpired. Barracks at the North Head.

A medical man who formerly served in the Navy has drawn our attention to the fact that apparently the Defence authorities have made no provision for housing the troops that may bo required to man the North Head fortifications in caee of a rupture botween England and Russia. Our Volunteer corps aie composed principally of young mon fiom officer and store?, and certainly have not the stamina of old campaignors, whose health is continually under tho watchful eye of tho military medical authorities, and who ore gradually inured to hardship. In ca«e of any outbreak, these young men would be requested to take the field, and a winter under canvas on tho North Head would do far more harm to their constitutions than half a dozen engagements with a hostile force. The commanding officers of the Auckland Volunteeis do not peem to be impressed with the necessity that exists for a provision for hou-ing the men, having, no doubt, the old soldiers' sentimental hankering after a "tented field," and, befidex, their quarters will be comfortable enough A wooden barrack affording sleeping accommodation for 100 men could be erected on tho southern face of the Noith [feud at a nominal cost, and no doubt if the Government couM not see their way to finding tho money, the building might bo run up by private subscription.

The Insurance Companies and War Risks. Judging from the unanimity with which local exporters go in for wir risks, it is very evident that our commercial com tnunity consider an Anglo Russian war inevitable The practise of having war iisk.3 as well as a general policy on all homeward-bound cargoes has become quite general during the past fortnight, and a vessel clearing out for a long voyage without such precaution being taken in the exception. The rates are fixed by the local associations in each of the principal towns of the colony, and endeavours are made by frebuent quotings to afoimilate them. The present rate for the Homeward voyage ib 30a per cent, for sailing vessels, ani 10s per cent, for steamers, ttteamer-bornecargoes to San Francisco and other American ports are insured at 10s per cent Island tradeis even allow the donger of war to enter into thoir cal"u!ations, and effect insurances at a .^peciel rate, per cent, additional per month.

Auckland Garrison Artillery A meeting of peisons des-irou? of forming a Garrison Artillery Corps was lield at the Giamruar School, S>monds street, on April 28— Major Lusk in the chair. A. tele gram having been read from 'the Govern meut accepting the bervioes ot the corps, it was resolved to ioim an aitillery company, to be called the Auckland Garrntn Artillery Coips, and to enrol up to 100. The reguia tion height was fixed at sft Gin. Forty eight mon were sworn in, and a committee was appointed to wait upon gentlemen likely to becomo officers, and to recommend namoi of members as non-commissioned officers It was aU>o decided to make application for the use of the Drill shed for drill purposes.

The Naval Estimates. Tho Naval Estimates for 18S5 S6 show that during that period ihero will be in Hei 1 Majesty's Dockyards building and complet ing for sea, 33 ship", classed thus : — Eleven irouclads, 5 protected ships, 4 partially protected, 2 despatch vessels, 3 steel torpedo cruisers, 5 composite gun vessels, 2 steel gun and torpedo vessels, and 1 steam mooring lighter. This will form an additional tonnage of 10,714 tons to be built this year, of which the iionclada take 10,516 tons. Of these 11 ironclads— the Coilingwood 6,100 tons, the Edinburgh 6,150 tons, the Imperioube 5,000 ton 5 , and the Warspite 5,000 tons, are to be completed, 5 are to be considerably advanced, and 2 are to be begun at Portsmouth. The I lmperieuso is to be provided with engines i by Messrs Mandsley, the Warspite by Messrs John Perm and Sons. Of the shipbuilding work to be built by contiact, there is set down one armoured, the Benbow, which will be 6,010 tons when completed, and 16 unarmoured, of which there will be 2 despatch vessels, the Surprise and Alacrity; 2 steel torpedo ciuisers, the Scout and Fearless ; 1 composite gun vessel, 4 new gunboats which are not yet ordered ; 4 tirt-t-class, and 2 second-claes . torpedo boats. There will thus be an addition to ller Majesty's navy of 9,48S tons, made by contractors on the Thames, Tyne, and other places outside the Government dockyards. It must be mentioned that 23 additional vessels, of { 7,55S tons, are expected to be completed by March of next year, and set down under this head os not yet ordered — namely, 2 iron-clads, 5 belted cruisers, 6 steel torpedo cruisers, and 10 first-class torpedo boats.

New Mode of Harbour Defence. The United States Government has acquired one more curiosity of warfare by purchasing the new and wonderful monster which Mr Ericsson has just constructed at his own expense for the purpose of illus tvating his views of harbour defence. Briefly, that veteran inventor believes in the efficiency of submarine artillery in small, cheaply-built vessels, as the best protection against ironclads. The gun carried under water is the main factor; the vessel is merely the gun carriage. His model vessel, the Destroyer, has cost 120,(00 dollars, and is 130 feet long, 17£ wide, and 11 deep. Her bow is protected by heavy inclined armour plates, placed transversely, and backed by thick timbers. Within the iron hull an intermediate arched iron deck extends from stem to stern ; under this is the powerful engine, and there also are the crew during action. Under the iron deck and the inclined armour of the bow is a 16-inch gun, 30 feet long ; it carries a projectile 25

feet long, weighing 1,450 pounds, including an explosive charge of 300 pounds of gun cotton. This gun is near the bottom of the vessel, and its m uzzle passes through an opening in the stem. A valve, opened and shut by steam power, covers this muzzle, and when it is iaised the inlushing water in checked by an inner valve which is strong enough to hold it, but is itself easily carried away by the tremendous projectile as it leaves the bore. An inner sea valve is sacrificed for each shot. The theory of the verael ib that on account of its thick armour it can be safely brought within a range of 300 feefc, at which distance projectiles may be effectively discharged. The projectiles are exploded by a percussion iiring pin as soon as the enemy's hull is struck, and of course whon the hull is shattered the ironclad Binks. "Remembering tho great share Ecrisson had in developing the itonclad, his opinions are entitled to respectful consideration, wild as they may appfaar to the first blush.