THE COLONIAL DEFENCES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1567, 20 July 1882, Page 2

THE COLONIAL DEFENCES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Yesterday. . The Post says :— " We are glad to learn that the Government have decided to take vigorous steps towards providing defences for the four principal ports of New Zealand. Mr Bryce has telegraphed to Col. Scratchley, requesting that,' if possible, he will come over to New Zealand at once and advise the Government on these heads. It is thought that the events which have occurred and the advances in military science which have been made since Col. Scratchley made his report two years ago on our harbor defences might materially modify the views he then expressed as to the mode of harbor protection desirable to be adopted. For instance the spar torpedoes which he warmly favored for use by the naval brigades and torpedo corps are now looked upon with much lesa favor by many high authorities. Similarly, a good deal of change has taken place in the mode of dealing with submarine mines, which he recommended for the harbor approaches, and, thirdly it is thought doubtful whether he would still advise that all the heavy guns now available for the Wellington harborshould be mounted in one battery at the Heads, where if once a vessel of the powerful class likely to be employed should manage to slip by, they would be powerless to defend their city from bombardment. Moreover, it has been ascertained that no hostile ship of a size to carry guns of sufficient power to bombard this city from the strait could approach nearer the city than 8 miles, with a high range of hills (700 or 800 feet high) intervening ; it is therefore believed that no danger need be dreaded from that quarter.