DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1954, 1 April 1885, Page 2

DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

[By Telegraph.] (United Press Association) Wellington, this day. Captain Badham, of Tasmania, who has been selected by the Government to take charge of the artillery, and also the shore batteries, has for some time past been engaged in superintending the fortifications of Tasmania. He is spoken of as a gentleman of-high ability, and was roqqnv monded by his Excellency tl)e Governor, He is expected to arrive in New Zealand in a few days, Lieutenant Douglas, of Rangitikei, an officer of the Royal Navy, has been appointed to take charge of all the port defences, Lieutenant 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 a commander to ihe whole of the volunteers in New Zealand, the Government are in communication with an English officer at present in Canada, and have offered him the appointment. It is understood that he ip an offioer of high rank and that he also has been recommended by Sir William Jervois. . The; appointments of Captain Barbara, -Lieutenant Douglas, and the

commander of the volunteors will bo of a permantnature. • ■•',.- -••

Major Oautley leaves Wellington for Lyttelton on Friday to arrange for placing guns in position there.'. After spending two or three days at Lyttelton he proceeds to Dunedirt for similar purposes. Mr Bell, Major Cautley'B assistant, will leave for Auckland to-morrow, and it is expected that the works in connection with defences there will be commenced next Monday. The armed cruiser which tho Government have been endeavoring to arrange for is to be like the Esmerald, steaming about nineteen knots. The Government is wililng to pay interest on tho total cost, and two-thirds of the amount required for maintenance, conditionally on her being available at all times for training purposes. The Government intend that each Naval corps in the colony shall be supplemented by a torpedo section, to consist of ten experienced men, The Government have cabled an order for Whitehead torpedoes to the extent of £50,000. . Launching gear for torpedo boats has also been ordered, so that the boats may be taken up and launched from any ordinary coastal vessel when required, It has also been decided that twenty-five Armed Constabulary shall be stationed at each of the four centres, and will form a nucleus of the Permanent Artillery, the number to be raiaed to one hundred, in the event of war breaking out; The additional members will be drafted from volunteers. The Government has also decided to have in Auckland, 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 fool to form a special torpedo corps consisting of yachting and boating men, and a meeting has been called by the Commodore of the regatta committee, the vice President of the Yachting Club and the Captain of the Star Boating Club for Thursday afternoon to consider the question.