FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM THE "POST"

NAVAL HEADQUAHTERS

"Auckland is agitating in fovr-."* at having that port made the headquarters of the New Zealand Squadron, and to have the two men-of-war which ars to form the squadron, stationed at Auckland," comments "The Post" of this date fifty years ago. " 'Strenuous efforts,' says a northern contemporary, 'no doubt will be made to get those warships stationed somewhere in Cook Strait, in order to defend the great uninsured wooden buildings of . the legislative capital; but everything clearly marks out Auckland as the proper naval station for the New Zealand and South Pacific Squadron. The geographical position of our port, in relation to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, combined with other natural advantages, and viewed in conjunction with the fact that here there are larger shipping and commercial interests to conserve than at any other placa in the colony, ought to ensure it being made the naval rendezvous in these seas.' Auckland will certainly never lose anything from the want of asking for it, but all the elaborate special pleading in which Auckland may indulge in support of its present preposterous demand will not produce much effect. Auckland's geographical posi* tion renders it absolutely impossible that vessels intended for the defence of the whole colony should be stationed there. New Zealand will contribute to the maintenance of these vessels for its own protection, not for that of.the Pacific Islands, so • that the latter"3 situation in relation to Auckland i 3 not a factor in the case. The war vessels will, we. suppose, naturally make the seat of Government and the central port .of the colony their headquarters. If stationed in Auckland they would be three or four days' saiJ, at the least, from the southern ports, where their services might be required in a hurry. From Wellington they would command both coasts of both islands from the centre, and be within easy reach of every part of the colony. Wellington also offers unrivalled advantages as a coaling station, being t.b.a depot of the West- Coast coalfields, the product of which is so infinitely superior for steam purposes to the brown coals of the north. The colony would certainly not consent to pay a large annual subsidy to gratify Auckland by keeping two men-of-war stationed in the extreme north, where they would be practically useless as a protection to any other of the chief ports. Tha assertion that there are larger shipping and commercial interests to conserve at Auckland than at any other place in the colony, is quite unfounded and inconsistent with facts. The only real ground for the claim advanced i 3 that Auckland possesses docking accommodation. Until this is supplied in Wellington, the warships will probably have to go to Auckland when they require docking. Beyond this Auckland has no valid claim to their more frequent presence than other ports have." CHIME AND THE POLICE. "The frequency and almost complete immunity with . which offence 3 against, property have recently been committed in this city has undoubtedly created a most uneasy feeling in the public mind. That dwellinghouses, offices, and warehouses should have been entered at-night, and even in tha daylight, time after, time without the perpetrators being traced and arrested, is very unsatisfactory, and it is no wonder that people are uneasy when they know that burglars and robber 3 are about, and apparently unknown to the police. It is a fact that the police force of the city is insufficient in number, and the men, we believe, are overworked. Their hours of duty are said to be longer than in any other city, and there is a good deal of dissatisfaction on this score. There are plenty of streets in the city which are rarely, if ever, visited by a constable. Tha detective force also seems to be rather weak numerically, and as a number of bad characters are now evidently congregated in Wellington, the temporary transfer here of a few detectives from other places might have the effect of putting a stop to such depredations as are now of daily occurrence." ■PARCELS POST. "The parcels post system is to be brought into force in September. The Government have now;under consideration the tenders for the necessary crates, hampers, etc. The system would probably have been in force by now had it not been for the fire in the Post Office. The rates, it is understood, will be slightly in excess of those current in .Victoria, the reason being that the New Zealand steamers will have to play an important part in the transit.. The Government do not intend to purchase horses and expresses, but will invite tenders for letting the work on , contract. Tha maximum weight of parcels which can be sent by this new forwarding agency has been fixed at 111b." HAWAIIAN COMPLICATIONS. "Something akin to a revolution appears to have occurred in the Sandwich Islands, the populace having been reported to have arisen against the Ministry and ejected them from office, while the troops have arrested the Premier. The next San Francisco mail will probably bring fuller particulars about the revolution and its causes. It is rather singular that such an occurrence should have taken place at the present time, when it is understood that the King had in view a project for uniting and confederating all the. Pacific Islands. Only a few days ago it was reported that a Hawaiian man-of-war, supposed to be on a mission of annexation, was visiting Tonga and Samoa. It would seem, now, that King Kalakaua has enough to do at home without, at present, attempting to extend his dominions." NEWSPAPER'S FAILURE. "There were some instructive details elicited at the meeting of Mr. Bracken's creditors in Dunedin. It was shown that after £10.000 had been sunk in trying to maintain the 'Evening Herald,' he and Mr. Bathgate bought the paper for £1700. Mr. Bracken's shares in the company subsequently formed were set down as costing £710, and their present value was estimated as nil."