THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3896, 17 January 1878, Page 3

THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

TO THB EDITOB OF THB PBESS. glß,—As you have referred my non-inter-ference doctrine to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, you will no doubt kindly allow mc to show to them, and to the public, that though it is well to defend ports by torpedoes from privateers, yet .the real point, which is Tulnerable with us, is our shipping. Imagine half-a-dozen Alabamas starting from Nicolaevak in the North Pacific, and pouncing on the Australian and New Zealand wool and gold ships. Of what use-would your fortifications be ? Costly and well made, bnt of no use at aIL The Russians could easily select a few here and there out of the thousands of unoccupied atolls of the sunny Pacific for refitting stations, and seize all the New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels. The history of the Alabama is not lost upon fhmlrin t j minds. The non-interference theory has been in use now for scores of years by the Brazilian Empire, the United States, the Argentine Republic, the Central American United States, and others, and why should we be the only exception to the rule ? The fact of our dependence is the weak point of England. Her statesmen recognise ft; they deplore it. I propose to cure it by independence. Let us De a free people; a free Federation. Mr Disraeli, alias Beaconsfield, votes for war, so do two others of his Ministry. To-night's telegrams (14th January) show that he has put his foot into the war by remonstrance, which, if severely snubbed, may cause i those three armed Alabamas, that are now waitingjin the North Pacific, to Btart Upon our shipping bade. Mr Cunningham deserves the thanks of the country for hu bold/stand'for defence, and if I were Mayor of Christchurch, I should call a meeting at once to consider " our defenceless state," "Mr Dttraeli's actions," and *' Independence or Defepoe." Yours, &c., J. W. Tbeabwbil.