THE DEFENCES OF AUCKLAND

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 786, 9 March 1871, Page 3

THE DEFENCES OF AUCKLAND

We are glad to learn that the defences of Auckland have not been neglected by the present Government. Wo understand that a short time ago the Hon. the Defence Minister sent a communication to the Naval and Artillery Volunteers, requesting that a board of officers should sit and decide upon the best disposition of the guns at Fort Britomart for the defence of Auckland, and the training of the Volunteers. The board has now sat several times,and agreed upon a series of resolutions upon which an elaborate report will be based. We believe the principle of defence and sites of batteries advocated a short time ayo in a series of articles which appeared in this journal, have been adopted, and, ho far the number of serviceable guns in Fort Britomart will permit, those principles will be carried out. Six of the 24-pounders will be removed to the North Head (beside the two 40pounder A rrrstrongs already in position there), and there placed en barbette. Four 24-pounders and one 32-pouhder will be removed to the outlying point •on the Orakei shore, to be called the Wasp Battery. The remaining 12pounders will be left in the Fort, where they now are, for the p ir.pose of drilling the members of the different corps. While this disposition of the guns will make it a very difficult task for any ordinary hostile frigate to enter our harbor, an outer line of defences ought to be secured, so as not to risk all upon one hazard, and ceaseless efforts ought to be made to obtain some of the heaviest class of ordnance for an outer line of defences. Were this done, and the narrow channels leading into our harbor guarded by numerous torpedoes, Auckland might rest secure against the hostile visit of a Russian cruiser.— ** Cross."