DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1985, 21 December 1889, Page 3

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Wellington, Dec. 19. The proposals of the .English Government, re King George’s Sound and Thursday Island embrace forts, barracks, and armament, with the establishment of a permanent force at each post. Ihe amount contributed by England will be in all £26,150. Western Australia is to contribute £SOOO to the cost of fortifying King George's Sound, and this amount has already been agreed to by the Government of that colony. The remaining colonies, on the baris/)f population, are set down as follows : Victoria, £2795; New South Wales, £2780 ; Queensland, £993 ; South Australia, £BO2 ; Tasmania, £374; New Zealand, £1556 ; total, £14,300. The cost of fortifying Thursday Island is larger. The total amount to be levied on the colonies is £17,100, distributed as lollowa Victoria, £5059 ; New booth Wales, £5054; Queensland, £IBO4 ; Sooth Australia, £1458; Western Australia, £196 ; Tasmania, £6Bl New Zealand, £2828. The {tnpOßl' popt of maintenance at King

George’s Sound is eslimated at L3113,’ of which Western Australia is to pay one fourth. New Zealand’s share will be £441. The annual charge of maintenance at Thursday Island, where a larger force is to be stationed, is £4807, of which New Zealand wjil have to find £795. The maintenance, as well as the primary cost of gnus and works, is divided according to population. The Government ere in possession of the detai's of equipment of forts, and the number of garrisons, &c., but deem it inadvisable to allow particulars to be made known.