Interview with the Governor.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5054, 25 March 1885, Page 3

Interview with the Governor.

♦ . [Pas Pbess Association.) AtTCKIAND, This day. In an interview with a reporter yesterday, Governor Jervois said:—The mes! effective way in which the colonies could assist Groat Britain if she were at war I wonld be by putting all their ports in an efficient state of defence. If these polls ,were properly defended, they would be of great assistance to the Imperial navy, but the British Government would hesitate to ■end a vessel to any port which was noi adequately defended, and where it might be overpowered by a superior force ■It would appear from cablegrams that there really is a considerable danger of war with Kussia, from the attitude taken up by that Power. Russia seems to have played fast and furious with us in ,- reference to the boundary question, and her troops have advanced to certain points ■nd say, " Here we are, and we are going to atop here ; you can take what course yon like." I remember once having a conversation with, a German officer of rank, who, like most of his class, was a thoughtful and capable man, and he expressed his opinion without hesitation tbat sooner or later England and Bussia would come into conflict in India; it was only a question of time. The question now is whether that time has come. It leems (o be one of Russia's objects to gain access to the ocean; At the Black Sea and the Baltic she is hemmed in, and it is no doubt the great object with her now to reach the ocean at the Persian Gulf. «• You might state," said His Excellency, '•' that I am afraid I shall not be able to visit Auckland and reside there for some time as I proposed doing. I regret it, but in the present position of affairs it will be ■ecessary for me to attend at head quarters. Of course, if all this danger of war blows over, I may be able to come to Auckland for a short time.