ARRIVAL OF MAJOR-GENERAL EDWARDS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1889, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF MAJOR-GENE-RAL EDWARDS.

INSPECTION OF THE FORTS. Major-General Edwards, of the Eoyal Engineers, who Ims been commissioned by the Imperial authorities to report on the dot onocfl of the colony, arrived from Auckland, via Napier, last evening. In company with Lieutonant-Colonol Humo (Inspector of Volunteers) and Major Douglas (Inspector of Ordnance), ho left Auckland by special train at ten minutes to 5 on Thursday morning last, and arrived at Oxford at 11 a.m. Tho party then took coach to Eotorua, which was reached about 5 o'olock that night. The journey from Kotorua to Taupo ooenpied the next day, and on tho Saturday they arrived at Tara wora. On Sunday morning a start was made for Napier, which was reached about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The journey from Napier to Wellington by train oconpied the wholo of ye3terday. Hajor-Genoral Edwards took the opportunity while passing through tho Lake district of inspecting some of tho wonders of that region, and we are informed that he waa astonished at tbo various Bights brought under his notice. Ho was particularly struck with tho Huka Falls, and declared them to be the finest speotaole of tho kind that hu had ever seen. Tho weather during the entire trip was perfeot, and our distinguished visitor thoroughly enjoyed the jonrney. Major-General Edwards mado his inspection of tho fortifications at the Heads this morning, and was accompanied by the Hon. tho Defence Minister (Captain Bussell), the Hon. the Minister for Publics Work 9 (Mr. Fergus, who wa9 until lately in charge of the Defence Department), the Hon. the Ministor of Lands (Mr. G. F. RichardBon), Colonel Humfrey (Under-Seorotary of tho Defence Department), LieutenantColonel Hunio, Lieutenant-Colonel Butts (Commander of the Wellington Volunteers), Major Messonger(in command of the Permanent Artillery), Captain Falconer (in charge of the Torpedo Corps), Lieutenant Bennett (Permanent Artillery), Mr. A. D. Bell (Engineer of Defences), and representatives of the press. The party loft the wool jotty shortly after 10 o'olock in the Ellen Ballanco, Captain Hunt, and were landed at the wharf in Shelly Bay after a pleasant ran of about 20 minutes. The General first of all visited tho torpedo sheds in Shelly Bay, and then made his way to Point Halswell, where the Bin disappearing gun was worked, under the direotion of Major Douglas. Major-General Edwards next turned his steps towards Fort Gordon, where the Gin hydro-pneumatio gun was set in motion, Major Douglas again directing operations. A minute inspection was mado of tho eleotrioal apparatus. Captain Falconer lucidly explained the intricate meohanism, and illustrated the firing of a submarine mine by setting off some fuses. The guns, eleotrical apparatus, &0., wore found to be in the best possible order. Nothing more pleasing to the eyo could be found than the beautiful appearance of everything in the testing rooms, and Major-Gonoral Edwards expressed himself exceedingly pleased at the manner in which things were kept by Cant. Falconer and his able assistant (Potty Officer Bevan). Beforo leaving Fort Gordon, a number of shots were fired from a Morris tube fittod to a six-pounder Nordenfeldt gnn, tho target being a rook in the water at the northern end of Kau Bay. One inch ammunition, weighing about 3ozs, was used, and the disttnoe fired was about 1000 yards. Most of the missiles took effeot, sevoral ahots by the tioneral being highly successful. After this tho party descended the hill, and an inspection was mode of the torpedo launch, whioh was lying in the shed in Mahunga Bay. The boat was found to bo in splendid order. The visitors then returned to tho Ellen Ballanoe, whioh had steamed round to Mahunga Bay to pick them up, and after she had run as far as the Pinnacle Rock, for the purpose of allowing Major-General Edwards to inspect the entrance to tho harbour, her head was turned, and sho returned to Wellington, whioh was reaohed at 20 minutes to 2. The weather was porfeot, and tho outing was a dolightful one. Major-General Edwards did not express any opinion whatever, but in a report which ho will Bhortly prepare of his inspection he will stato unreservedly what he thinks of our defences. It was intended a few weeks ago that the General should be afforded an opportunity of seeing how the guns fired, but as operations aro now proceeding at the wreck of the Willie M'Laren in Worser Bay, about the spot whero the target is usually placed, the idea could not be carried out. Majoi -General Kd wards inspoots the volunteers in tho Drillshed this evening, and leaves for Dunedin to-morrow. He is to meet His Excollency the Governor in Christuhurch on tho Ist, and it is probable that when he returns to Wellington about a week after that date, he will visit the Kaiwarra and Ngahauranga Batteries.

In oonseqnonoo of the Magistrate's Court Chamber being required next week for the purposes of the Court of Appeal, it has been arranged that the magisterial business shall be carried on in the Exchange Hall. Due notioe of the foot will doubtless be given by the Court authorities, but we understand that tho Sheriff will take possession of the Courtroom on Friday next to prepare for the sitting of tho Appeal Court. A full attendance of the members of St. John's Literary Association is expected at the weekly meeting to be held this evening. The subjeot fur this ovenisg is an essay by the President, the Rev. James Paterson, on an English author.