The Governor on Colonial Defence.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4418, 2 March 1883, Page 2

The Governor on Colonial Defence.

The Governor made a most interesting speech when down the Dunedin harbor yesterday with the Harbor Board, in reply to the toast of his health. At its conclusion, Mr Pyke, M.H.8., said: Wei!, Sir Wm. Jerrois, I am bound to say that that is the most interesting practical speech I have ever beard from a Governor during my 31 years' experience as a colonist.

The Governor began by referring to the duties of his position, and said he thought the more a Governor saw of all classes of a community, the more be mixed with all classes and creeds, and understood the wants of all, the more useful would he be, and the more likely to be fitted for the position in which he was placed. He .then went on to refer to the harbor works, and urged the Board to concentrate its attention on the bar, and added that if at any time his opinion as an individual was worth anything, without reference to his position of receiving advice from his constitutional advisers, he would always be happy to give it in any way that might be considered correct or proper. So. long as he remained Her Majesty's representative in this colony, it would be his wish and pleasure—indeed, he would consider it an honor to give the benefit of any such opinion for what it was worth. (Continued cheers.) He concluded with, the following reference to the question of defence: Much as he had to do during his !ife with the defences of the Empire, having been the immediate adviser of Lord Palmerston from the year 1857 up to the time of that statesman's death—and his recommendations having been carried out, he could' now express an opinion on such matters with" out it being considered that lie was indulging in anything like overwhelming vanity. (Hear.) The question relating to the defences seemed to be within a small compass. It had been said that the colonies formed part of the British Empire aud therefore that they could look to England' for their defence. There was some truth, and there was also a considerable amount of error, in that; no doubt so long as Great Britain was she greatest naval power in the world, —and be took it that she always intended to remain so—she was able to protect the colonies against any expedition that might be sent out against them. She was prepared to supply ships and forces against any expedition that might be sent out against them. She was prepared to supply ships and forces against any expedition proceeding from a port and to disperse it,—'therefore all the colonies bad to provide against was the sudden landing of some cruiser or privateer or two. It would be impossible for the greatest naval power that could exist to use sufficient viligence to prevent such a thing happening. To meet such a contingency the means of defence would only require to be comparatively small; and from conversation he had had with several persons he did not think there would be much difficulty in getting Parliament to provide funds for this purpose. It was, important to have a proper Volunteer force of qualified Infantry arid Artillery. The Volunteers presented a good appearance on parade, practised well, and would no doubt do gcod service; but unless the men were raised they could not be expected to do much in the way of resisting external attack, although they might be useful as regarded international peace. (Laughter.) On this question he would lay before Ministers some distinct principles, which, he ventured to think, should be acted on. In making the^e observations he wished it to be understood that while they were wise in calling out for harbor works, they would have to provide sooner or later for their defence. (Hear) With these remarks, which he was afraid he had made too long (Cries of "No "), he.begged again to thank those present for the exceedingly kind manner in which they had received him. Indeed, he desired to express his thanks for the handsome and kind manner in which he had been received from the moment he set foot in New Zealand. (Cheers.) In conclusion, he repeated that the observations made by Air Fish, as to the position of the Governor, were exactly in accordance with his own, and he only hoped to be able to carry them out. (Loud applause.)