COLONIAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 741, 14 May 1886, Page 25

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) Sydney, May 7. The papers relative to the scheme of defence recommended to the colonies by Admiral Tryon have been made public. He suggests that the colonies should bear the cost of a number of vessels, which would be under tbe control of tbe naval authorities. The Archer type of fast-going torpedo boats is considered the most suitable for the work required. The correspondence from the various colonies shows that the New Zealand Government favours an increased expenditure of L 20.000 per annum for the purpose of local defence. Western Australia and Tasmania doubt whether cbeir respective Legislatures . will sanction any increase in expenditure, and point out that they have no information with regard to the proceedings of the recent conference. ° Sydney, May 8.

The New South Wales Government is in receipt of a memorandum from Mr Griffiths, Premier of Queensland, upon the subject of the scheme for the combined defence of the colonies. Mr Griffiths states that .his Government is of opinion that it is undesirable that the ships destined for coast defence should be the joint property of the colonies, and considers that the vessels should be provided and equipped by the Imperial Government, after which the colonies should contribute to their maintenance in a ratio based upon population.