“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 12

“The Press” In 1864

November 21, 1864. In New Zealand we have till lately been very lax in providing for our defence, but a more energetic feeling seems to be springing up among us. The remarkable development of the volunteer movement in the Southern provinces within the last few months is an exceedingly healthy sign. In Canterbury we formerly had three so-called companies of volunteers, who could hardly muster twenty effective men among them; now we have six companies, which will soon be made up to their full complement of men, and others including a cavalry corps, are in course of formation. Canterbury, it must be allowed, is now doing her duty in providing what may be called her internal defence; but there is a very important need which has still to be supplied. It is not enough to be prepared to resist an enemy already landed; we ought to be in a position to prevent him landing at all. For this object the defence of Lyttelton harbor is a primary consideration. Now Lyttelton harbor is a place which nature has made easily defensible. Two or three batteries of heavy guns, placed in such positions as to command the most effective range, and backed up by

some hundreds of practised riflemen, would make the forcible entrance of the harbor a perilous task even- to a force . of some magnitude, while a single privateer, the class of foe to whose attacks we should be most exposed, might as well put his head into a wasp’s nest. On all sides the hills rise almost immediately from the water’s edge, affording to riflemen excellent cover and complete command of the bay beneath, so that while the batteries were plunging their heavy shot into the enemy’s sides, a storm of bullets would be poured down upon his decks, or into his. boats if he attempted to land. The Government have sent to England for the guns, which may be shortly expected; but guns are of no use without men to serve them, and we are glad therefore to find that an artillery corps is being got up in Lyttelton, which, if they practise assiduously and make themselves really capable artillery men, will be the one thing wanted to complete our defences. With well served batteries sweeping our harbor, and well armed and trained volunteers covering the hill sides and lining every hedge and ditch with their fire, we shall be able to hold our own against all comers as Englishmen ought.