TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1878.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 916, 7 May 1878, Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1878.

Just at the tirao when the Submarine cable is broken, and when we may naturally expect news of startling import from Europe comes the most ominously warlike message that has yet been received m New Zealaudj neither moie nor less, than a warning from the Secretary of State for the colonies to put our house m order a*id be prepared to to defend ourselves. England is unable to defend our Eastern line of sea board, and recommends the mounting* at once of certain batteries m four of the principal seaports, which would afc least save those towns from the predatory raids of the enemy, a«d by their defence proportionately lessen the attraction of the colony as a field for plunder. The batteries, the mother country is willing to provide for the use of the colony, and it is satisfactory to find thafc the Government is losing no time m taking advantage of the offer. The following is a copy of a memorandum sent by tne Premier to his Excellency the Governor, for the puipose of being transmitted to the Hooie Authorities m reply to the telegrams above referred to, and which will be found at length m another colums: —" Sir George Grey presents his respectful compliments to the Marquis of Nouniaaby, The New Zealand Ministers reply to Her Majesty's Government that the colony will undertake expense of proposed armataant. Her Mnjesty may rest assured ffeafc the New Zealand subjects will, m tUe /event of any crisis, loyally and resolutely j m all respects do their duty to their j Queen and country. Sir George Grey requests that the ulavquis of Normanby will be go good as at once to telegraph a copy of this memorandum, to her Majesty's.-! Government for their infoi'ma' | tion. At sea, May 4, 1878. Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers are the four ports which it is intended to protect, but if, as was previously telegraphed, it i<s the intention of the Govern-, ment to charter one bundled strong steamers, aud heavily arm them for the protection of Britah commerce, some few of these ghould be available for the colonies, and should be able, m addition to the by no i means small fleet of men-of-war on the Pacific stations, to afford a very efficient patrol m these seas. With the chief centres of commerccesafe from the piratical raids of Itussia there would b» loss temptation (o that country to lib out an expudiiiou. PR * }'•"'?* c; IU1(1 therefore iv feofcuriug' r4;£ safety rf the four most important pofjts ,%j Government will be to a great oJcUiut adding indirectly to the security of the remainder. At any nito the eo\wy is clearly not able to defend every SG*j/3Pfc town, and must draw the line wmßWh*¥?r Ministers have only aotci wisely v; telegraphing to Encrlan'] at once tor the guns, but if it is their intention fc> procure the services of Col. SScvatchlcy to come over from Airs-

tralia and advise as to their disposal and mounting, the formation of the | batteries, &c., it would be 'well nofc - -''to/wait a declaration of war but to time his visit to such ebtfe as it may reasonably be expected that the guns will arrive. It >v»ill be well ' if 'war should net break out previous ' tot their arrival ; it certainly would m such case bo wise not to run a » sec <nd risk of its breaking out previously to getting 1 them mounted for use. Between the declaration of war and the possible visit of hostile Russian ships m these seas very little time may be expected to intervene. If it is intended to send them the leash will be slipped within a few hours of the declaration of war, and it will be late m the day then, to send to Australia for Col. Scratchley and commence defensive preparations. News from Europe is now anxiously looked for and with the pos--1 sibil.ty that the repair of the cable may be the work of weeks . many anxious enquiries are made as to how often and at what intervals intelligence from Europe is likely to be received m New Zealand. ' Telegraphic communication between Europe and Singapore still remains open, the break is m the narrow straits down the East Coast of Sumatra to Batavia. Mails leave Singapore for Batavia on the ßth. 14tb. 20th. and 28th of the month, so that we may expect a batch of European telegrams on the 9th, 10th, 21st, and 29th inst. The last mail left Batavia for Singapore yesternay, so that the break down m the Port Darwin line having been repaired the message of Ministers forwarded through his Excellency would reach Batavia m time to catch yesterday's mail and will to-morrow or next day at latest be received m London. * We lately published somo account of the Otago sheep derived from the report of the Inspector of that district The annual report of the Inspector of sheep for the Provincial district of Canterbury enables us now to furnish our readers with some information respecting- this branch of industry m that district. The number of sheep on January Ist 1878, is returned at 3,307,7 f1. Of these, 1,749,127 were depastured on freehold land, and 1,558,584 on runs. The previous years returns showed 3,249,248 sheep altogether, of which 1,311,570 were depastured on freehold and 1,837,739 on runs. Thus it would seem that while the squatters stock has largely decreased, that ot the freeholders has increased, or which is the most pvobuble cause of the difference, the squat tei*s have during the year " gridironed' so much additional land into their own hands as freehold as to make the above difference m the proportion. Still there are a large number of Hocus owned by small freeholders, for the returns disclose the fact that out of the large number of sheep owners m the Canterbury Provincial District nearly three fourths own a less number than 500 sheep, the proportions of ownership being as under :, — 1021 persons own 500 cshcep and under; 118 persons own 500 sheep and under 1000; 50 persons o.vn 1000 sheep and under 1,500; GO persons own 1500 sheep and under 2000 ; 81 persons own 2000 sheep and under 5000; G4 persons own 5000 sheep and under 10,000; 62 persons own 10,000 and under 20,000 ; 27 persons own 20,000 sheep and under 40,000 ; 10 persons own 40,000 sheep and under 90.000 j I person owns 90,000 sheep and under 200,000.