THE HARBOUR DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6828, 5 October 1883, Page 5

THE HARBOUR DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

APPOINTMENT OP MAJOR CANTLEY.,

|BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. | Wellington, Thursday. Major Cantley, of the Royal Engineers, an officer of high standing, has been speci&Uy ' selected to come to New Zfe:iland in connection with the scheme of harbour defense, on account of his sp cial qualifications for tho duty eutrosted to him. He has been 21 years in active service, and was employed under His Excellency Sir William Jervois on the defences of Cork Harbour, subsequently at Gibraltar, and later still in reporting on the Falkland Islands and their capabilities as a naval coaling station, etc. He was sent oat at the request of Sir William Jervois to" assist HisExcellendy in respect of the executive work connected with designing a thorough system of defence. Major Cantley will act under His Excellency.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs : [ —To-day's cable messages relative to tho advent of Major Cantley, R.E., to "saperi vise New Zealand harbour defences," is not qnite accurate. His Excellency Sir W. Jervois has kindly undertaken directly tho supervision of the general system of defence of the New Zealand harbours, but his multifarious official duties preclude the possibility of his undertaking tha large amount of what may be called " executive" or quasi-mecha-nical work involved is the preparation of numerous expensive plans, specifications, &c. His Excellency therefore requested the Ministry to obtain the assistance of a capable man from the Royal Engineers to relievo him of this executive work and act under him generally in the matter of harbour defences. A requisition was sent home accordingly, and I understand General Stuarb would have come but that he h|is retired from active service. He, however, strongly recommends this Major Cantley, who, I learn on the highest authority, is a distinguished officer, and is considered one of the bsst men who could have been chosen. I believe Sir W. Jervois is much pleased that he has been selected to assist him.