THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1887.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8930, 20 December 1887, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1887.

With the presence of Admiral Fairfax in Auckland, we think of the fast growing importance of the naval guardianship of the Australasian waters. England's marine dominion, her sovereignty of the seas, is illustrated by her world-wide list of what are technically known as naval stations. The whole ocean is mapped out in sections in charge of fleets or squadrons, so stationed as to protect in time of war her commerce that floats in every latitude, and to assist the defence of the many colonies in her sea-divided empire. It is a fact that more than half the tonnage of all the mercantile shipping of all nations carries the British flag. From statistical tables, published in the present year by the committee of the great marine institution known as " Lloyd's," we learn that out of a total mercantile tonnage now afloat of 20,943,650, Britain and her colonies own 10,539,136. Then, separating the steam tonnage from the above total, we find that nearly twothirds of it are British — namely, 6,595,871, out of 10,531,843 belonging to all nations. To sentinel the vast trade thus represented, penetrating all waters, the British navy baa its wings everywhere. Besides the great Channel fleet for home service, and the great Mediterranean fleet, there are squadrons to look after the North American waters, the West Indian, the South African, the East Indian, the China Seas, and North Pacific, and the Australasian waters. Of all these cruising grounds none has risen into importance so rapidly and so recently as the last mentioned, the Australasian, or to speak exactly, the South Pacific and Australian. The duties of the West India squadron will become of great consequence again when the Panama Canal is open, and that inevitable event cannot now be far off; but we see that Lord Brassey, from the information be acquired in his late voyage, believes that some vessels might be spared from the North American command to further enlarge the squadron in Australasian seas. Look at the details of the immense j commerce which England in these days ! carries on with all shores of the Pacific. Among her prominent imports are the woo], gold, wheat, frozen meats of Australia and New Zealand ; silver, guano, alpaca-wool, from Peru and Chili; gold dust and wheat from California ; cocoa from Equador; copper ore from Bolivia ; silver from Mexico j precious drugs and dyes from Central America; the teas and silk of China; sealskins from British Columbia ; copra from Polynesia; and a multitude of other commodities from various coasts. And when vessels are about to leave with return cargoes, the wharves of the chief British ports are crowded with bales of textile goods and cases of steel, iron, bronze, and porcelain wares, etc. The yearly money value to England of her commerce with the shores of the Pacific is estimated at seventy millions sterling. This may ere long be even doubled after the highway at Panama is ready, for the total commerce of the Australasian Colonies is set down at one hundred millions sterling; and the route to England is now by Suez or round the Cape. Great as has already become the commercial standing of the Pacific, that must be immensely enchanced when there is the Seagate midway, affording a direct passage for traffic to and from Europe. Naturally the protection of British commerce over this ocean is attracting additional attention. As regards the situation in the North, a practical step has been taken by forming a naval post at Esquimalt, where, among other advantages, the Nauimo coalfield is near at hand. With Hongkong and its graving dock on the Chinese coast opposite, the British navy will now possess at each side of the North Pacific a post of observation, refitting depot, and base of operations. The work at Esquimalt was undertaken because of the menacing maritime doings of Russia in the far North, and because the great Canadian railway has created a new route between England and India. The twin naval posts we speak of, though a long distance asunder, will afford peculiar facilities for crippling in case of war Muscovite proceedings in that quarter or movement Southward. It must not be forgotten, however, that this is the largest ocean on the globe, that it has a vast width, that the distance straight across between Esquimalt and Yladivostock is stated at 5000 miles, and that consequently there would be abundant room

for an enemy, if Russia should prove to be one, to move about or come down South unobserved. Our two naval posts up there can do much, but they cannot throw a chain across the ocean. All the marine Powers, however, are now in the Pacific, and like Vladivostok in the north, Apia and Noumea in our own direction may 'any day become fortified naval posts of Governments who in the course of events may remain friendly or become hostile to us. Hence the importance to England, with her vast commercial responsibilities, of possessing in the South a frontier post of observation and base of operations, and which would be at the same time a coaling station and place for repairing and refitting. The Admiral of the station is now in our midst, and he can judge for himself of the capabilities of Auckland for such service, the capabilities natural and acquired. In 1865 the Colonial Docks Loan Act provided that, " Whereas, with a view to secure accommodation for vessels of the Royal Navy in British possessions abroad, it is expedient to authorise loans in aid of the formation there of docks of dimensions greater than would be requisite for commercial or other private purposes, loans of a low rate of interest should be granted up to a certain amount out of the Consolidated Fund." Without looking for the loan thus offered, we constructed a graving dock in Auckland, having previously procured from the Admiralty plans and specifications of the large docks at Chatham and Devonport. After ascertaining the views of the Home authorities, and with other necessary knowledge, a dock has been built which will accommodate the largest ship of war in any European navy, and the ceremony of opening which the Admiral has promised to honour with his presence.