AUCKLAND AS A NAVAL BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1898, Page 4

AUCKLAND AS A NAVAL BASE.

Thci inlellig'erice convoyed in the

letter of our London i*orrcspoiulent to-day, that Air .1. It. Withefortl hus succeeded in impressing (he liritish Admit"! 11, V with the importance of equipping the Calliope .Dock bo as to thoroughly adapt it for naval purposes is important. In all probability, the. Harbour Hoard would novel" have en-

Ix'i'etl upon tlic const ruction of this costly and 'commercially mi proli table; work but for tin- c\|)i'ctalioii, enoourand more- or less by naval oilieurs wiio have scrvcil on the Australasian station, Unit Auckland would bo made a second naval base for the licet, in tlio Pacific. This disappointment which lia.s attended these anticipa.tions discouraLrctl cxptMicliturr on the dock, and indeed the Board was not financially in a position to embark upon the heavy expenditure Hint would be necessary to equip the dock for executing naval repairs without a full assurance that the expenditure would bt: amply reproductive, Mr Withcford deserves great credit and public- commendation for his persistent, and disinterested exertions in this matter, and he deserves the success which at length seems likely to crown hi.s ffoi'ts. Our correspondent describes at' .some length the course of the negotiations. We understand that the position when the mail left London on the 12Jst of May was this: —In two interviews between Sir Evan Macgrcgov, .Secretary to the Admiralty and Mr Witheford something1 like a working: business programme was arrived at, which subsequently received the endorsement of ,the Lords of the Admiralty. Mr Witheford has now to ascertain the plant required, and the estimated cost, and will, at soon as possible, furnish the Auckland Harbour Board with particulars as to the conditions. The subsidy will then be fixed, and is to be ample enough to secure the Auckland Board against any expense. 'Che chief gain to Auckland from the establishment of a second naval base here will be the prestige and protection ensured. The expenditure at the dock is a minor consideration in comparison with the co-operation of the Admiralty which it involves. This means their aid in ordering1 warships to repair, refit, coal, etc., on. this station. Mr Witheford in these negotiations has pursued a simple, respectful course with each Admiralty Department, and though the First Lord and Civil and Naval Lords were oposed to any establishment., outside Australia, they have, we understand, shown him great kindness and respect throughout. In England it is thought that New Zealand has been highly favoured, nil things considered, by the decision now arrived at. It is not so much the actual annual cash payment we value, as Auckland being recognised as an important naval rendezvous. With a shipping trade which yearly expands with the increasing population of the Islands of the Pacific and the prospective increase of- commercial activity when the new ocean highway of Nicaragua and Panama is opened up, we should now prepare to attract and secure the future

stream of: commerce, and lay down a true basis for maritime progress.