NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5074, 20 April 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

(Peb Pbess Association). y

"Auckland, Saturday.

All the guns are now in tbe places which they are permanently intended to occupy. They arc not mounted yet, but the cement; is being placed in the batteries. Two of the 7 inch guns are at the top, ready to be put into position there; one 61-pounder is at the south battery; one 7-inch gun is at the Cheltenham Beach battery, the; carniages are also up. All the guns and carriages have been brought up without a; hitch or accident, under the superintendent' of Mr Vickermann, of the Public Works Department. There are close on £00 men employed on the hill, and they will be employed for two or three days yet. -The gun on the Cheltenham Beabb battery will probably be mounted on Monday. A tender has been accepted for the erection of a torpedo shed and slip at Devonport. Arrival of tbe Hinomoa with

Torpedo Boat. Yesterday.

The Hinemoa arrired with the torpedo boat in tow, after a passage which Captain Fairchild describes as one of the worst he ever I experienced : In coming across the Bay; of Plenty the torpedo boat towed well; the manner in which she rode the heavy seas was a matter of surprise to all on board tho Hioeraoa. For the safety of the torpedo boat it was necessary on Thursday! in a fierce north«east gale, to take: shelter under Cape Kunaway east" coast; on Friday at the lee of Mayor's Island's, and on Saturday to run for Port Charles, which she left on Sunday morning, arriving as abo?e. •

The Coptic a 2Tew Zealand Cruiser,

The s.s. Coptic has been chartered by the Imperial Government as a fast cruiser for the New Zealand coast, and arrangements are now being made to avoid sending her on the homeward voyage. She will go from here to Wellington, and then will be fitted up for her next service.

Wellington, Yesterday. . Government have cabled to the AgentGeneral to procure and at once forward 2000 stand of the latest military rifle (the Martini-Henry) to the colony, together with all necessary appointments.