PORT DEFENCES AND OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 827, 15 August 1864, Page 5

PORT DEFENCES AND OUR VOLUNTEERS.

It is very satisfactory to see that this subject ia receiving a share of public attention, and I read the article in jour paper this morning with a great deal of pleasure indeed. It is- not a day too soon, for every hour that runs by makes the danger all the more imminent.

It is highly necessary that the Volunteering spirit be stirred up in the town and neighboring district. lam sorry to say that at present it is in a very languid, indeed, almost moribund condition. There is something wanted to infuse life and animation into the whole movement. Tbe attendance at drill is becoming less every week, and the more enthusiastic members among the various corps, are losing heart, and resignation is frequently mooted. No doubt a good deal ofthi9 is owing to the weather, which prevents all outdoor drill, and men soon get. wearied of the room. A little is also due to the w.mt of aims, which are not in sufficient number; and on the part of the Artillery and Naval Brigade, which corps have only a wooden model to work with, the -whole thing looks too like child's-play to be recognised as part of the stern training requisite to make a soldier. •' ■ But what is really wanted is that the Volunteer principle should become wide-spread, universal, in fact, We maintain that every man in the colony should be a volunteer; that is to say, that every man between the ages of 20 and 49 ought to be able to handle a rifle, to l^ad rapidly and shoot correctly, and to knowsufficient of the light infantry drill as to be able to turn out armad and take up his position at the sound of the bugle, ready for any movement of attack or defence; or to run to his battery and gun, have her loaded and run out, ready to take good aim at any advancing foe. A population such a3 this, with proper works, and under proper command, would be, in a word, impregnable. But to bring them into this state will take a very long tims indeed, as things are going on at present. For that matter, lam afraid that nothing short of the actual occurrence of the ciiamity we so much dread will awakea the psople out of rheir present state of apathy or torpor towards the defence ot our hearths and homes from ths ravages and spoliation of an audacious enemy. There are plenty of brave men among1 us; men with the heart to dare and the hand to do; but bravery is nothing without system, without organisa*ion. We're ths occasion really to arise, I have not the slightest doubt plenty of men -would be had. It is very well to sneer at the movement; or to pat it on the back with faint praise; or even, as some will say, " Oh, your first line of defence would be the back of Flagstaff !" If the time should ever arise, our Volunteers will toe the men to be found, in the front rank, and the first to occupy the post of honor, that where there is the greatest danger. But God forbid the time should ever come. On taking a look at the dislrict in which Dnnedin is situated, there seems very little probability of an attack being ever made upon it from any other quarter than the harbor. To the north, of the town, over towards Blueskin and Purakanui Bays, a force might he landed; bat beyond destroying a few settlers' houses or thei like, nothing else could be done. No force, unless it were very strong, in fact an army, would ever attempt to march on Uunedin. Nearly all the country between is covered by bush which soldiers could never penetrate. The road could' be defended by a small number of men and two or three light guns against any force, at several points. All along the south and east we are well protected by the heavy surf which always breaks on the coast, from any landing_of forces. Nodoubt, we have the example of Sir Ralph Ahercrombie at Alexandria, where the British forceslauded from boats on the beach, formed, and drove the French troops over a range of sandhills, which may be supposed to somewhat resemble those of Otago: but the surf of the Mediterranean is not the surf of the Pacific, and we may consider ourselves pretty safe from ?.ay attempt on that side. It follows, therefore, that all our efforts at defence will have to be directed to keeping an enemy out of our harbor; and our military authorities ought to examine the locality in order to the drawing up of some well arranged plan of defence, by which the various corps, detachments, contingents, or whatever they may be named, may at once he able to commence a course of drill, having such an object in view. Above all, no time ought to lost in procuring a liberal supply of arms and ammunition, for both artillery I and riflemen, and cutlasses and carbines for the Naval as well as the organization of ' boats' crews for services on _ various parts of the harbor. Nipht attacks, boat attacks, and every sort of movement that would enable the men to know each other, and work with and depend on each other, should also be adopted. The Pilot stall at the Heads cou:d also bfl made into a powerful adjunct to a Defence Force; from their intimate local knowledge they would form an admirable corps for the works in the lower harbor. Prom Port Chalmers could be drawn a very strong contingent for tbe Naviw. Brigade, a large proportion of whom would likely be men who know their drill well, having learnt it on board shin. So that on.ths whole, we need not fear for men: if th 6 Government only send us plenty guns, powder and shot,: iilie rest is easy if we are well led. Let the Government erect the works, and find the uecsssary armament, and men will be found to man them, and should the time ever arise, make the proper use of them. . Pakjeha. 11th August, 1864. MANSE STREET. ;