THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8125, 23 March 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

WELLINGTON, March 16. The Governor has received a despatch from the War Office making a number of suggestions on the subject of Colonial defences. These suggestians are the outcome of the recommendations made by various Commissions, which have been appointed to consider the question. The despatch is a circular one, and one of its chief proposals is the establishment of what is termed a Defence Committee, consisting of experienced officers, to advise the local authorities on all matters connected with defence. The despatch has been referred by His Excellency to his advisers, and is now under the consideration of the Defence authorities. It is understood that the Imperial Government in the despatch endorses an opinion, which has before found expression, that if Russia does go to war with England, overt action will he taken by the former previous to, or without, any formal declaration of war, and that this action will almost certainly take the form of a descent on the Australian Colonies. The Imperial Government possesses, and has furnished to the Colonial Governments, _ absolute proof that this is what Russia intended, and was prepared for, when an outbreak of war appeared imminent a few years ago. At that time a British man-of-war paid a visit to Wakapuaka, where the cable reaches the New Zealand shores, and remained sometime, until all danger of a sudden visit from a hostile cruiser had passed away. A muffled boat pulled ashore, and warned the cable operators to preserve secreoy, which was done with such effect that even the Government knew nothing about it for some time.