A SUGGESTION IN CONNECTION WITH DEFENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7223, 11 April 1885, Page 4

A SUGGESTION IN CONNECTION WITH DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—There wero no more popular or more moiltorlous ofiicerß in tho Bengal Army than George and John Fulton. Tho sons of a -distinguished Bengal artillery cfllcor, they wore educated at the Military Academy at Addfccotnb, whence they passed with distinction iuto the Ecientifls branches of tho service— Goorge into tho BoDgrsl Engineers, aud John the liengal Artillery. Both were employed throughout their floivico in tho Public Works Department, George ia connection with civil and military engineering, and John ia the great Incian Canal, under such men of faruo aa Proby Cautley and Baird Smith, the latter of whom has lett his mark in history aa a leading endneer at tho siege of Delhi. George Fulton, unfortunately for his ccuatry, met a Boldlti'H dcatti early in hla career, during tha memorable detenco of the Lucknow Rcsidoney. Of him it was well written, ia tho famous diap&tch ol Sir John Inglia describing the siego operations, that ho was th > lifo and soul cf the defence, and his loss within a short weok of the relief by Havelocis waa deplored as second only in importance to that of Sir Hoary Lawrence himself. He was, unfortunately, killed by a round shot in the vigilant performance of his military dutlos. John Fulton's toivico was passed iu tho construction of large ana important irrigation works, and some of these will remain a monument to his ekill long after those who saw them built have passed away. On retirement he settled in Mow Zealand, where two of his brothers had preceded him, and where years before he had acquired land. Iho koy-note, Sir,; of tho policy of ". the present advanced Government of tbia Colony ia ''Now Zealand,for its colonlstB." We hivo lately heard, in a now famoue epeech, how contracts for machinery and whatnot have been given, in encouragement of local industries, to local firou. We also know that there is pltssty of local talent within the Colony to administer to all iho want* of the colonists without going elsewhere for it: for Instanco, if a legal opinbn on a momentous question is required.it is cot necessary for* tho Prcaicr to goto America for it, Tiiia 'boirg eo, sir, it is not obvious to the ordinary intellect why time and money should ba spent in trying to obtain a commander for the Volunteers of tne Colony from Canada when you have a man of General John Fultou's calibre actually on thasjot-a man who takes an intelligent interest iu the subject, as evidenced by his description of tho recent local review which appeared iu ycut paper only a day or two ago, liud by his taking part la tho dcputa'.icn on the defences which waited on air Julius Vogel tho other day.

I never met General Fulton in India, though I have known him -for years by rcputation, and I am ccn. vincod there arefev.msn living who are better able to give the Government valuable advice, oither in military or in public works ma'.tcrs, than John Fulton. Ilia employment, therefore, either a3 commander of tho Yoluntetn or as a member of tha Upper House, would be amazingly popular in tho Colony, where ho and his brothers have been do long and so favourably known. It would place at the disposal of tho Government a thoroughly competent and reliable adviser, wbiht it wculd demonstrate the sincerity of the Governmeat professions to give tho preference, wherever thij is possible, ti local institutions and loci! ta!oni.— I am, &c, ■ Patrick Carkkot. April 10.