The Defence of the Colony.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4226, 18 July 1882, Page 2

The Defence of the Colony.

[By Telegraph.] (fbom oub own correspondent.)

Wellington, This day. During the sitting of the House last night, Mr Bryce took occasion to say the Government intended to proceed at once with works for the defence of our principal ports with heavy guns, torpedo boats, torptdos, and mines as recommended by Colonel Scratchley. The guns were already here, and would be^ mounted. The Government was in communic ition with Col. Scratchley to see if he|^ad any alterations to suggest, and to learn if he could visit the colony to complete the work. The cost of the proposed works would be from £4C0,000 to £500,000. The Government pro-. posed to lake this moßey from the loan, but to charge it to the consolidated revenue, the repayment extending over" four years.

The Post says: —" We are glad to learn that the Government have decided to take vigorous steps towards providing defences-^, for the four principal ports of Nev*\ • Zealand. Mr Bryce has telegraphed to Colonel Scratchley requesting that* it , possible, he.will come over to New Zed I* ' land at once, and advise the Government f on this head. It is thought that the events which have occurred and advances - in military science which.have been^aade siuce Colonel Scratchley'tnadfe his report two years a 2O on our hftjr#or'defences might materially modify the views' ho then expressed as to liarbor protection. As an instance, the ;spar torpedos which he warmly favored for use by. > Naval Brigades and Torpedo Corps are now looked on with much less favor by many high authorities. Similarly a good deal of cbruge has taken place in the mode of dealing with submarine mines he recommended for the harbor approaches, and thirdly, it is thought doubtful whether he would still advise that all the heavy guns now available for the Wellington Harbor should be mounted in one battery at the Herds, where if once a vessel of the powerful class now likely to be em* ployed shou'd manage to pass, they would be powerless to defend the city from bombardment. Moreover, it has been ascertained that no hostile ship of a size tocariy guns of sufficient power to bombard this city from the Strait, could approach nearer tbe city than 8 miles with a high range of hills (700 or 800 feet high) intervening. It is therefore believed that no danger need be dreaded from that quarter. No reply has yet been received from Colonel Scratchley.