LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 307, 17 October 1887, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, October 15. A party of visitors accompanied by Sir G. Whitmore, Colonel Bailey, Captain Messenger and other military gentlemen went down the harbor to Fort Ballance yesterday afternoon to witness some experiments with torpedoes and mines. Two Whitehead torpedoes were fired between buoys representing the line of advance of a supposed enemy. The direction was accurate, but one of the missiles proved recalcitrant, and eluded search for a long time. The other floated up at once, and was easily rejoined. On reaching the surface the composition of phosphorus on the snout bursts into a flame and guides the pursuers. After that four mines were laid and fired with complete success. No hitch of any kind occurred. The visitors inspected the fort, which is now finished, nothing remaining, but to clear spme earth away. Outside the palisades it i3 armed with two seven-inch muzzle loaders, a six-inch breech loading Armstrong (mounted on a disappearing carriage), and two six-pounders quick-firing Nordenfeldts. Everything is in readiness to go into action to-morrow. Work at Fort Halswell, nearer town,- is not so advanced. An eight-inch Armstrong gun is to be mounted there in addition to other guns. There is also a powerful search light at Fort Ballance, and all the stores and electric apparatus necessary for the system of floating and contact mines. The submarine armament of the Colony has so far cost about £20,000.