AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3472, 10 February 1880, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Yesterday. Hints to Volunteers from a Man of Experience.

Col. Scratchley on Auckland Defences. Colonel Scratchley inspected the harbor to-day, with a view to its defence, and" decided that the only defences necessary were the erection of the three seven inch guns, and three four inch guns already here on an earthen battery at the North Head, also four torpedo boats, and, if necessary, a small battery at Orakei Poiut. In the evening he inspected the various volunteer com* panics. There was a muster of 350 men. At the conclusion he addressed the parade. He reprobated having seven companies for so small a number of men, and would recommend concentration of the forces into a battalion. What was required was a field force of 500 or 1000 men, including a troop of cavalry, not the force divided into four companies of little over 100 each. He pointed out the necessity of day drill as evidenced by the evolutions that night and insisted upon squad drill being efficiently learned before company drill, and company drill before battalion drill. From what he had seen he was quite satisfied that there were materials in Auckland for a good force, but he trusted when they saw his report, they would agree with him that a change was necessary. He leaves by mail steamer for Australia.