AS OTHERS SEE US.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2453, 31 March 1888, Page 2

AS OTHERS SEE US.

Tilt: Army and Navy " Gazette " 19 a journal which fairly be supposed to know something about New Zealand, or be in a position to obtain accurate information before writing 011 the subject. In a recent article, however, the "Gazette," noticing with commendation the shipment of some war material to this colony, writes in the following absurd manner : — , We aro informed that the position of Now Zealand since it has undertaken its own defence is , simply deplorable.' We quote from the words of its able WatMinister, Major Atkinson, who has luid experience of the islands for over a quarter of a century. When we consider that the entire indebtedness of New Zealand, including debentures and loans, local and otherwise, comes to the appalling sum of nearly £90,000,000 sterling, it is impossible to understand the policy of burdening a comparatively young and by no means wealthy colony with such a debt without providing any adequate means of protection or defence for its harbours and coasts ; these being at present, according to Major Atkinson, 'nalted and wholly unguarded.' A colossal amount of capital lias been sunk in overturning a precipitous island into the sea, to form an artificial breakwater against the luige Pacific rollers that sweep in mountain high. And all this capital has been to provide .shelter for half-a-doxen calling steamers, there being 110 productions of any importance except timber, indigenous to the province, while the question of defence has hitherto been systematically tabooed. The despatch of war material may, we hope, be taken as a healthy sign of intelligence awakened.' This is very amusing,"but really the ignorance of the Army and Navy " Gazette" is much more " deplorable" than the condition of the colony, regarding the productions and ports of which it entertains such curious ideas. — " Wellington Post."