NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5060, 1 April 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

(Peb Peess Association.)

Wellington, Last night

■Government are arranging for tbe services of Capt. Badham, of Tasmania, in connection with the erection of batteries &c. Oapt. Eadham is an officer of the Eoyal Artillery, and experienced in such works. '

At present New 'Zealand has in store 85 rounds of shot and shell for each of the 23 big guns, and they have recently received one million rounds of snider cartridges. A largo supply of gun cotton was ordered from Home upwards of two months ago for torpedo use, and is now probably on its way out. This day. Extensive Preparations Tby . Grovernineat. Capt. Badham, of Tasmania, who has been selected by Government to take charge of the Artillery, and also the shore batteries, has for some time past been eu* gaged in superintending the fortifications of Tasmania. He is .spoken of as a gentleman of high ability, and was recommsnded by His Excellency the Governor, j He is expected to arrive in New Zealand in a few days. Lieut. Douglas, of Rangitikei, an officer of tbe Itoyal Navy, has been appointed to take charge of all this .port's defences. Lieut. Douglas; who will ' enter upon his new duties almost immediately, has had large experience in naval warfare and the use of torpedoes.

In connection with the appointment of Commander to the whole of the Volun^ teers in New Zealaud, the Governmeut are in communication with an English officer at present in Canada, and have offered him the appointment. As no answer has yet been received.to the cable sent him, his name is withheld. It is, however, understood that he is an officer of high rauk, and that he also, has been recommended by Sir Wm. Jervois.

The appointments of Oapt. Badhain, Lieut. Douglas, and the Commander of Volunteers will be of a permanent nature. Major Cantlcy leaves Lyttclton on Friday, to arrange for placing Iho guns in position there. After spending two or three days at Lyttellon he proceeds to Dunedin for a similar purpose. Mr 8011, Major Canlley's assistant, will leave for Auckland tomorrow, aud it is expected that the work in connection with the defences-there will bo eonimeaced next Monday. The armed cruiser which Government is ondeavoring to arrange for is to be of tfye Jiimeifttlda type, «<6,»uijug about 19

knots. Government is willing to pay! the interest on total cost, and two-thirds of the amount required for maintenance, conditionally on her being available at all times for training purposes. It is understood that the Admiralty have several vessels of tbe class required on tho stocks. Tho Government intend that each naval . corps in tbe colony will be supplemented by a torpedo sectiou, to consist of ten experienced men. The Government has cabled an order for Whitehead torpedoes to the extent of £50,000, and launching gear for the torpedo hoats has also been ordered, so that the boats may be taken up and launched from any ordinary coasting vessel when required. It has also been decided that 25 men of the Armed Constabulary shall be stationed at each of the four centres, to form the nucleus of a permanent artillery, the number (o bo raised to' one hundred in the event of war breaking out; the additional members will be drafted from the Volunteers. 1 Government have also decided to have' in Aucklaud, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington a permanent torpedo service, consisting of five men in each place, the number to be raised to twelve (should hostilities occur) by drafting men from the torpedo sections of the Naval Brigades. A movement is on foot to form a special torpedo corps, consisting of yachting and boating men, and a meeting has been called by the ex Commodore of the Regatta Committee, the vice President of the Yachting Club and the Captain of the Boating Club' for Thursday afternoon to consider the question. It is understood that Government is having a revision made of the officers of the Militia, and that this step is taken with a view to ascertaining which officers wish to retain their commissions. . It is believed that a firm •in town is charging on the behalf of Government, a number of oil drums with dynamite, which arc to be sunk at the entrance to the ports and exploded by electricity from the shore should there be any attack by hostile cruisers. CnmsTCHUBCH, Last night. One hundred citizens have signified their willingness to join a reserve corps. Dunedin, Last night.

Sir Julius Vogel was waited upon to day by a deputation from the City Council and Chamber of Commerce, with tbe Volunteer officers, in order to draw his "attention to the defenceless sta'e of the city. He took the depulatiftn aback by sayiug he was sorry to see the course they hnd taken. They seemed to enjoy drawing attention to their defenceless position, and this appeared to him the worst policy. It w^s very important that what was clone should be done secretly. His colleague, Mr Stout, had wired him that the scare in Dunedin was not warranted, and that he would not delay an hour in fortifying. Government were going to place a gun at Lawyer Head, another at St. Clair Bnths, and several at Taiaroa Heads, and. torpedoes across the channel inside the bar. Plans for all these places were premised, and in two days Mejor Cant ley would leave for the South, and his assistant would go to Auckland to fix the guns there. Twenty-fire of the Armed Constabulary were to be sent to Dun* edin, and the same to Christchurch, to form the nucleus of an artillery force, and one of the colonels would be placed in command. They were spending a vast amount of money, and in a few days the principal ports of the colony would be sufficiently protected. For himself, he did not think there would be any war. They had the best advisers possible in Major Cantley and the Governor. In reply to a question as to the shore end ©f the cable, Sir Julius said Government bad made provision for it.* He thought it was not politic to say anything more on the subject. He repeated that what he objected to was the constant reiteration of the words " Our defenceless position." He was not speaking for himself, but under the highest inspiration he could receive, when he said that nothfng could be- more undesirable than for them to allow everyone to think that the colony was in a defenceless position, for such was "not really the case. ■ ,'

The Governor has received a cablegram from Admiral Tryon, commanding the Australian squadron, that he is about to send a mau-of»war to New Zealand, possibly two. This news will be received with pleasure, and is sura to strengthen the hands of.the Ministers in their preparatious for the defence of the colony.