Auckland v. Wellington.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 238, 21 January 1888, Page 4

Auckland v. Wellington.

'will we'infefgintjj beSceqA&'&i to pay frequent) j visits to all the chief ports^and occasionally to 'each of the smaller plirrefalsb. \Ve dqnoo Jfoli a 'moment believe that' \ either Auofclarid* or Wellington will be allowed to monopolise : their v ,'The 3t idea; i of two"' bem'g' istationed en immanence at the extremity of th©s cbldny is: One which could 'only be inspired by that selfish local vanity which is so characteristic of Auckland. Its great claim to be the' naval ' headquarters is, of course, its clock. We do not altogether envy 'it that 'Vhite elephant,' and .we fear thab the dock dues which 1 will accrue from ' Her Majesty's jfleetiii these' waters Will ero but" shortly^ towards the annual dost of Calliope Dock". - For the defence ; of the* colony' in time/of" Iwar, it would be absurd* to station 1 ships at or near Auckland^ as an enemy might worlc, its will at Otngo or Lyttelton, and be safe | from pursuit long before either of the vessels r j from Auckland could arrive to the rescue.. As a base of operations in war time, \Velliugfcon's central position, commanding both coasts of both Islands, gives it indisputable.superiority over the Northern port, while its vicinity to the West Coast coaf-« fields, of which it is the depOt, gives - ifc additional advantages. The Bay, of Islands' coal, obtainable ' at Auckland, is' certainly cheaper, but immeasurably inferior to the Westport coal for steam purposes, and in time of war' ample supplies of the very best coal would be absolutely ossential. Of course, all' these points, and many other considerations as 'w,ell, will receive due attention from the Admiral and Government in determining the station ing of the New Zealand squadron when the vessels come into their hands. We are quite content to leave the issue, and to; trust to the merits of our claims ' for fair consideration! Wellington' does not wish to use , any undue influence, and for, that reason it, vevy 'wisely abstained from , bothering the Admiral during his recent visit, and by so doing no^oubt consider-,; ably enhanced the pleasure* of his tern- - porary sojourn in our city."

THE "Post" says: "Inoneiinportant matter Admiral Fairfax and his officers were'mos agreeably .disappointed in their visit t "Wellington. They had feared being pes- , terjed'here as they'iVere in Auckland on the question of the naval headquarters for New' 'Zealand. Their experience of Auckland > badgeririg ' on this point was, we believe, &- bitter one. Almost every thingsaid qnd,done there had:& direct or indirect reference to this question, and most .extra-, ordinary, effqrts werj? made to impress the. Ad'niiral .'with • the superior character of ; Auckland claims ,sq the coveted position., In Wellington,, -vye l are' t glad to , say^bettev 'last® was'showhi an,4 neither in public, nor v fai; private.',', Wwgjji^e papers or in any -otlier fay, .was apyja^tqmpt made to mtiu; (mc'e'tlie Adhiira.V6 L m.i^ on this pomtortp pumb him as, to the ppinions he had formed oil might foijin. /He^^d^s, squadron were *i^bei^hero,wi^Q|^in?feartyhosr»tehty 'Winch Wellington has alvvaya been delighted % s)iovv to all naval visitors. No attempt r was made to curry favour or create false '•fm'pi-essions. The fact is Wellington does nW eliaio in-th'e^fev&rish' anxiety which "distinguishes !• Auckland in regard to-the-n^vkl. headiquarters; «»Jt» |s- quite/ content 'tsailow;4ibe question'/to-fee^ de t qided>o'nJT4tsf frits/ asdt nb d&ibt Willvbe notwithstandatt*earwig^ing? toadying,wine^diill&g.^ Admiral's^pini'on-bri'' i mhueBtion'williiA6urally'htfve > gt'e a < Swei^ J } iti ß dSfcbrminitig .tbe'tlocation ,6f^he^New,Zea^ ''fiiSd ,%q.uadVonvj(Bhe v^selB»will buenUimy J jfiftfeKfflj cfenfcifolfefet'itrdtg'etioai^tttp^s, < '^Hdlion a&M Govemmeiit'^Jf tliB»*ttl<wyc Mmte^ce-bfti^€fJ^slls|^t6fbut^s;ti'i|i fffiiilddirfwfeDm^s^yl^»Mttin#.#|ie^^^ mM lb:(3ur^d^^^eiWp>lles, a>#ybaW