THE GERMAN SQUADRON

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8423, 26 November 1890, Page 4

THE GERMAN SQUADRON

WELLINGTON RUMO UR g MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINP [BY TKLiiGiiArn.—-own com^ro^, Wellington, Tuegfl " The man in the street" i a verv bu a . y ' just now. People who know him fc| ln „ * , ra do not take what he says verv y but while his credulity is armraixft . CU ° Ual y. i„ K to hi, own deal of mischief. A few days am wlu 8 °° d that the German squadron were tal^ " 1 scientific "«i K ht" of the Wellington Uu & and fortifications with an ulterior obieK T" this a very proper reply was , nad bv?' To the local journals to the effect that if a„ !i man were to .how his visitors over hi! den and the beauties of his nark l,„ Rft , r " not tell them he suspected tt le n TP burglars. The same authority «•!,; u 0 few lays ago raised the cry of "Wet in port, and quoted the instruction Lord Knutslord as to the expediency J not giving information ot details of harf defences to foreigners, is to-day bl °° Uf the Government lor being discount ? the German Admiral. As usual the hi is fastened upon an Auckland member" 19 the Cabinet. It does not require a WCQr ,i guess to name the member of the Cabinet referred to. it must be the Hon \f Mitchelson, and no other. The rf .-' j • also given why .Mr. Mitchell,.lncapacity of Acting-Premier, made EO m. reservation in conceding what J asked of him. It is the most rid? culous statement that if the Germa squadron were in Auckland Harbour th«° might have any concessions they asked tor, but because they are in Wellington the grand features of the Wellington port and harbour must not be displayed. I am in a position to tell you, on good authority, what has taken place in this matter. The .Admiral of the Cerma squadron applied to Hen Castendy the German Consular agent here, to know if his vessel would be allowed to have " b' gun " practice in the harbour. The Coif sular Agent telegraphed to Mr. Mitchel* eon, and received a reply to the effect that some complaints had been made of the firing of men-of-war guns in the harbour It is notorious that the percussion of bi? gun firing is felt in all the welling-hoagM that front the Wellington harbour. It i s equally we'd known that Lady Onslow has beer, recently, and is still, in very delicate health. These circumstances, taken together with complaints made in respect to former big gun practices, easily account for Mr. Mitchelson expressing a wish that for such a purpose the German vessels. should go out to l'alliser Bay. I supfx)S9 that the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson did not give any reason to the Consul for his reservation, and it was at once assume that he had no reason for it Like everything else in this world the laws of hospitality require to observed strictly by all those who appeal to them, lam not about to say that the Admiral of the • German Squadron or his officers or the men of the squadron did anything that deserves censure or blame in the slightest degree. On the contrary, as their welcome has been cordial they have shown themselves in everything entitled to respect. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson is Acting-Premier, and in that capacity had full authority to grant or refuse the concession asked, lie was in the position of the gentler," whose premises the visitors were passing through." If • the "gentleman" objected to smoking on the premises, it would not be strictly polite to ask him why smoking was "strictly prohibited." The German Consul, however, thought that there was a greater person than Mr. Mitchelson, and put himself in communication with the Premier, and repeating the request which the ActingPremier had declined or refused for the reasons above stated. The Premier displayed his mastery of tactics in this small matter as well as others in the reply " that whatever concessions or privileges the British vessels of war had when in harbour, and which Government could grant, should be granted to the German squadron." Of course, when everything is explained, it is manifest there has been no discourtesy shown to the German ships or officers, and that there has been no big gun practice in the harbour is owing to the good sense and good feeling of the Admiral and his officers.

While on this subject I may refer to the other question, as to the German ships being engaged in torpedo practice manoeuvring in the harbour of \A ellington, taking sounding's and photographs of the fortifications, and of the beach line all round. There is nothing whatever in all the myetetorious talk thatJias been going on. Jam informed that there has been no admiralty chart of the soundings of the Wellington harbour published since ISCS. In the par iiamentiirv library the latest dates are 1849. English and other war vessels take sound ings for their own use, but they are not necessarily published. Even the coast survey of New Zealand, I am told, is not complete. Under these circumstances it was absolutely necessary for the German vessels to take soundings of the harbour, when going in or out. Although the Germans are not such grand-looking vessels as . the first-class British warships, they arc still very large vessels, with a gt eat draught of water. As to photographs, lam tola il is customary to photograph all land passed whether at sea or in port. In regard. t< soundings, again, I heard to-day a good in stance of the necessity for taking them. A marine engineer some years ago surveyed " Cape Turnagain," and found it 15 miles out of the position marked on the admiralty chart. The officers of the German vessels were entertained at a ball last night by the Wellington Club. The Governor was preseut. The affair was a great success.