OUR DEFENCES

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 241, 10 February 1860, Page 4

OUR DEFENCES

(From the Auckland Weekly Register.) Some two or three months siDce, every one in Auckland was on the gui vive on the subject of Harbor Defences, and most properly so; for, whilst Auckland is one of the most secure oi ports against wind and weather, it is, from its easy and safe approach, one of the most insecure against the assault of an enemy. That this vf 0.3 felt to be so, maybe positively affirmed, because of the hasty and anxious preparations for defence that were then hurriedly projected and now as stolidly neglected. Have our relations with France improved since then? Nay, have we not since had a French trooper calling for refreshments, (after a few days sail from Sydney) but in reality, no doubt, to spy into the nakedness-—the defencelessness of the land ?

- "What is to be done, or is there nothing to be done ? Three months ago, the Beacon Reef, Hauraki Head, and the North Head were all to fee fortified. A hulk was chartered and plans

were said to be organized. Where are they, and what were they ? We ask the question now when the Nav&l Officer in command of the Australasian station, and another Post Captain is in port. We have no time to lose if we would protect ourselves. The only battery, Fort Britomart, if it ever opened fire, would cause the instant destruction of Auckland and itself. In Sydney, the chief defences "are in the immediate vicinity of the City; and these have been condemned by Commodore Loring as not only costly but destructive. Fight an enemy at a distance from, not in the heart of a town,—-above all a wooden town, —if you wish to preserve your property. Where should our defences be erected? Mount Victoria has been pointed out by naval men as a spot where an almost impregnable citadel may be constructed —commanding the sea-ap-proaches, enfilading the entrance, and sweeping the whole of the harbor. Why should not this be looked to on the instant ?

It is said we are without the necessary funds. We are inclined to doubt this. Where there is a will there is a way. Why not sell the Albert-Barracks and grounds, placed as they are in the best and most desirable part of the City, and appropriate the proceeds to the erection of a Citadel at Mount Victoria, establishing the Garrison there. And then, again, the Quarantine-Ground, at the mouth of Bishop's Creek, has been placed under arrest for defensive purposes. Why not convert that into cash? We heartily hope that Commodore Loring will not be permitted to leave us until this momentous topic of Defences has been discussed in all its bearings and phases. i ;

New Invention in Eailway Signalling. —The system we are about to describe, which also embraces an improved mode of signalling for the starting of a train, is the invention of Mr. Christopher Batty, of Longsight, near Manchester. Mr. Batty's invention is this; He proposes to enlarge the weather-board in front of the driver and stoker considerably beyond the present ordiuary size, and, instead ofthe "bull's eyes"at present in use, to make the weather-board, in point of fact, a screen of plate glass, which, while protecting the men from wind and rain, will not prevent their keeping a good look-out ahead. On each side of the weather-board, and projecting over the frame of the engine, are to be attached mirrors or reflectors, about two feet square,- which may be firmly fixed at any given angle by a very simple contrivance. By means of these reflectors the driver has a view of the whole line of carriages attached to the engine ; and here is seen the manifest advantage offered by the invention. Mr. Batty prescribes that the guard shall carry for use in the day time three flags— red, white, and blue—and for the night lamps of corresponding colors, these colors to denote —as those at present employed—" all right," " danger," &c. In case of casualty happening to the train, say, for instance, a carriage taking fire from friction, the guard is to project the " danger" flag or lamp from his van, and it is at once reflected iv the mirror in front of the engine driver, and, as will readily be seen, must immediately attract his attention; in fact, from the position of the reflectors, it is almost impossible to escape his notice. Again, in the case of an axletree breaking, the consequent oscillation of the carriage or truck is so distinctly and readily shown iv the reflector that anything like a serious casualty from that cause would appear to be obviated. For the purpose of starting a train the inventor also conceives that the projection of a flag of a particular color by the guard in the same manner as stated above would be far more safe than the many signals at present adopted. One great feature in the plan is thafc it is comparatively inexpensive, the cost of applying it to an ordinary locomotive not exceeding £5, while from its extreme simplicity it is not likely to get out of order easily. Mr. Batty has patented his invention, which is described in the specification as the " Patent reflecting railway train signal." —Liverpool Mercury.

A critic was never better criticised than when Goldsmith said of Lord Karnes's Elements of the criticism, *It is easier to write that book than to read it.'

Sir Eobert Peel, on the occasion of a ministerial fish dinner, after he had ousted tlie „Wigs, gave as a toast, 'May we keep their plaices without their flounders.'

A negro once gave the following toast; —De late Gubenor ob de State—he come in wid bery little opposition, he got out with none at all'

* You charge me fifty sequins,' said a Venetian gentleman to a sculptor, ' for a bust that cost you only ten days' labor.'—' You forget,' replied the artist,' that I was thirty years learning to make that bust in ten days ?__

Eobert Hall was once asked what he thought of an elegant sermon, which had created a great sensation. ' Very fine, Sir,' he replied, ' but a man can't eat flowers.'

'My daughter, why do you look at the moon so much ?' inquired a mother of her daughter, a young lady just entering her sixteenth year. ' Why ma, they says there's a man in it,' was the innocent reply.

Plain Questions.-—Did you ivver naw onny boddy we creakiug shoes, but wor suar alias ta.get ta plaices a wurship late ? Did yo ivvor naw onny boddy go tut knife-box for a knife, but wofc they alias gat houd ov a fork t 5 furst ?—Pogmore Almanack.

Why is a vain young lady like a confirmed drunkard ? Because neither of them are satisfied with a moderate use of the glass.

Dressing foe Church.—A young lady who lately gave an order to a milliner for a bonnet, said : ' You are to make it plain, and at the same time smart, as I sit in a conspicuous place in church.'

' Mother,' said a little urchin the other day ' why are the orphans the happiest children on earth?'•—'They are not, my child; but what makes you ask that question ?'•—' Because they have no mothers to spank'em.'

A contemporary, epposed to the use of, tobacco, says:—"The women ought to make a pledge not to kiss a man who uses tobacco, and it would soon break up the practise.' It would be broken up sooner were the ladies to pledge themselves to kiss every man who does not use it.

A Frenchman, wishing to speak ofthe cream of the English poets, forgot the word, and said 'de butter of poets.' A wag said that his English was certainly not' the cheese.' "Jones has a reverence for truth," said Brown. "So I perceive," was Smith's reply, for he always keeps a respectful distance from it."

A benevolent lady visited the jail the other day, and asked a prisoner, " What are yon in for ?" " For stealing a horse." " Are you not sorry." " Yes." " Won't. you try and do better next time." " Yes I'll steal two."

' Can't you trust me, Mr. Butcher, a joint of meat this morning?—' No you owe me for that already on your bones. An old gentleman of 84 having taken to the altar a damsel of about 16, the clergyman said to him--" The font is at the other end of the church sir." " What do I want of the font ?" asked the old gentleman, "O, I beg your pardon," said the clerical wit, "I thought you had brought this child to be christened." A young man, who was full of gestures in the pulpit, having preached for Dr. Emmons one day, was anxious to get a word of applause for his labor of love. The grave doctor, however, did not introduce the subject, and his younger brother was obliged to bait the hook for him. " I hope, Sir, I did not weary your people by the length of my sermon to-day ?"—No Sir, not all; nor by the depth either." The young man was silent.