THE GOVERNOR ON VOLUNTEER DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5176, 19 June 1878, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR ON VOLUNTEER DEFENCE.

After revieving the Christchurch Volunteers last Wednesday evening, his Excellency Lord Normanby addressed them, and, referring to his own experience in Volunteering, told his hearers the history of the organisation of the Volunteer movement in Nova Scotia, where he w*s formerly Governor, and where what he saw convinced him how very much could be done in a colony by Volunteering. In those days, Volunteering had not been established in England, and the movement was not looked upon with any great favour, but he was fortunate enough to obtain the arms he asked for. He made a requisition for 3000 stand of arms, and the result was that in 12 months, in a colony which for years had had no defensive force of its own, there was an effective Volunteer force. Then came the Trent affair, which caused a fear that war might break out between England and the United States, and under that spur he was able to get a militia raised, having the existing Volunteer force to look to for his officers and non commissioned officers. Thus he quickly had thirty-two thousand men in Nova Scotia, drilled or ready to be drilled, He had keard it said that it was the duty of the mother country to protect her colonies, that it was her duty to lend her great name, power, and prestige for their defence. Undoubtedly it was of vital importance to a young colony to be so guarded from any large, organised attack, but to say that the mother country was bound to defend every portion of the soil cf each of her colonies was simply absurd. It was the duty of every man to be prepared to act in the defence of his country, and he did not think the people of New Zealand would be behindhand should any emergency arise. The Government had ordered arms for batteries to defend the four principal towns of the colony, the only points at which they were likely to be attacked should England unfortunately become engaged in a war with Russia. They had but little reason, he thought, to dread any general attack ; but it was perfectly possible that a single ship, a privateer, or sailing under a Russian commission, might during the night slip into one of their ports, and in the morning be found anchored there. That was what they had to guard against, and he had perfect confidence that the inhabitants of New Zealand were able and willing to do their duty. He trusted that Volunteering would go on prospering. What he had seen had given him great encouragement, and the satisfaction that should they be driven into war they had a safe guarantee of what might be expected. He once more thanked them for the opportunity that had been afforded him of meeting there that evening.

HARBOUR BOARD. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Board was held yesterday, in their offices, Fort-street,—Mr. J. T. Boylan in the chair. Present: Mesere. Daldy, Masefield, Isaacs, ' Firth, Melton, Brown, Thome, Eaton, MeKenzie, Cosgrave, and Casey. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. New Harbour Bill.—A letter was received from Mr. Cooper, Under Secretary of the Colonial Secretary's Department, to the effect that a new bill was being prepared to be submitted to the next General Assembly, and that the Government were prepared to consider favourably the application of the Board to be allowed to convert the power to borrow on mortgage to a power to issue debentures. Small pox.—A letter was received from the Town Clerk, enclosing a telegram from the Government, in which it was stated that three mild cases of smallpox had appeared on board a vessel in Melbourne, aud urging increased vigilance.—The Secretary stated that copies of the telegram had been given to the pilots and harbourmasters.

Wharf.—A letter was received from Messrs. Anderson and Co. relating to the condition of the store on the wharf in their occupation, and urging the necessity of certain repairs. The necessary repairs were estimated to cost £60. Letter referred to the Works and Endowments Committee.

Harbours.—Statements of harbour accounts were received from the Timaru and Napier Harbour Boards.

Fishermen.—A petition was presented by Mr. Isaacs from the fishermen of the port, Betting out the injury to their trade through having no place to sell their goods. They referred to the authorised market given them under the late Provincial Government. They brought under the notice of the Board the fact that they were now become a recognised society, only waiting registration, and would pay any reasonable sum for the privilege they asked. They suggested a position on the Gore street Jetty. The petition was referred tj the Works and Endowments Committee.

Freeman's Bay.—Letters were received from the Ponsouby Board and the Town Clerk of Auckland, enclosing resolutions unanimously passed, urging the Board to proceed with the works outside the carriage road, Freeman's Bay, according to the original intention. The Endowment and Works Committee declined to recommend the proposal of Messrs. Jaeger aad Parker, to lease the road frontages for a term of 66 years, at £50 per annum (clause 1). Mr. Cosgrave said that the reclamation of Mr. Danaher cost the Board between £13,000 and £14,000. In the case of Jagger and Parker there would be no cost for the reclamation, and the Board would receive £50 ayear—Jagger and Parker undertaking to expend £10,000. The interest of that eum alone would amount to a considerable figure, and that would be in a manner saved to the Board. On Danaher's reclamation the Board only received 4J per cent. That was a lo.«s to the Board. He moved, "That clause lof the report be referred back to the committee for reconsideration."—Mr. Masefield had much pleasure in supporting the reconsideration of the proposal of Messrs. Jagger and Parker. It was very desirable that the original intention to reclaim 100 feet outside the road should be carried out, and whether the Board did it or Messrs. Jagger and Parker did it, was pretty much the same to the general public. At present people passing at night were liable to accident.--Captain Daldy said it was necessary to guard against creating riparian rights. The Board had some unpleasant experience of the consequence of doing that.—Mr. Brown thought it worth while inquiring whether the frontages to the road might not be let. Buildings could be constructed on piles. That was % common mode of dealing with water frontages in other coleuies.—After some discussion, the clause was remitted to the committee for reconsideration.

Proposed Wharf. — The Timber Company asked permission to build a wharf on the west side of the Queeu-street Wharf.— Works and Endowments Committee recommended that leave be not granted.—Captain McKenzie thought for a harbour like Auckland the greater accommodation given to trade and commerce the better. He thought that erery such request should receive the most favourable consideration. The proposal of the Timber Company involved considerable outlay. He would move that leave be granted.—The Chairman thought the proposal formed a most dangerous precedent. It was impossible to say what would be the ultimate consequences of such concession a. They already had refused various sorts of concessions; what reason was there for this ? He would have no objection to the clause of the committee being sent back, on the ground that the committee might not have had before them sufficient information. Assuming, however, that they had all the information that could be obtained, they had come to a decision which should have some weight with the Board. Mr. Masefield thought there was a great deal in what the chairman stated. The adjoining lessee might have cause of complaint. Persons might be affected by such proposals to an extent the result of which it was impossible to estimate. There should be some restriction which would enable the Board to resume their former position. —Mr. Firth thought the general principle should be to give every facility for trade and commerce that would not be prejudicial to any public rights. One of the great products of this part of the colony was timber. He agreed with the general proposition, that the Board should be careful to guard its own interests and those of the public trading to the harbour.—Captain Casey thought the question should be referred back to the committee. Captain Daldy said the Harbour Board could not themselves occupy the position iudicated. The question was as to whether there would be any prejudice to the public, any injury to the income of the Board, any damage to adjoining property-holders. Ho agreed that the Board should conserve its own rights, and retain in its hand the power to remove the wharf on proper notice given. —Mr. McKenzie withdrew his ameudmeut, and the clause was sent back to the commit' tee for reconsideration.

Breakwater Road.—The committee recommended that the Board contribute part of the coat of maintaining this road if the city should put it in a complete state of repair. Mr. Isaacs said the city was debarred from collecting any latea from this place. This was specially a Harbour Board property. Mr Cosgrave said a large majority of the people who used the road were citizens ratepayers. That was a simple fact.— Captain Daldy said the allotments let by the Harbour Board occasioned an extremely small portion ef the traffic. Let the Board consider the immense traffic, comparatively speaking, fioin the railway. Was the responsibility of road-making for such traffic to be put on the Harbour Board. That was a very important question.—Mr. Firth : If the city will not do what they ought to do, then let the Board do what is useful to the public. It is a disgraceful thing that an important entrance to the town should be in such a state. The Harbour Board was a public body, having public duties to perform. If the city would not do its duty towards the citizens, the Buard should not forget what was due to the public, but perform ita own duty to the best of its ability. I will move, " That the recommendation of the committee be confirmed, and that the road be put in repair."—Mr. Isaacs seconded the motion, which was carried.

Financjc.—Payment of accounts :—General account, £58414s IOd ; loan account, £833 14s : total, £1419 8s 10d. Ordinary business (statement of funds) : To balance in bank, £5429 7s 6d ; cash in hand, £7 Ss 9d : total, 1 5436 16s 3d. By accounts ordered to be paid as above, £585 14a 10d ; to balance, £4851 Is sd. Loau account: Balance in bank, £9327 4s 9d ; accounts ordered to be paid, £833 14s ; to balance, £8493 10a 9d.

Tenders.—Mr. McEwan's tender was accepted for ironwork ; that of Mr. Daldy, jun., for timber; that of Mr. Bernard McDonald, for carting ; that of Joseph Craig (by lot), for Bay of Islanda coal (the Board having decided that only this coal should be used for steam purposes) ; that of Anderson and Co., for shipchandlery. Nomination of Chairman.—lt devolved on the Board at this meeting to nominate a Chairman for the ensuing year, in accordance with the Act,—Captain McKenzie moved, and Mr. Isaacs seconded, " That Mr. James Thomas Boylan be nominated for re-elec-tion. " —Carried. This concluded the business.