The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3276, 27 March 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885.

After the crowded ' and enthusiastic meeting of Wednesday night even Sir Julius Yogel must be convinced that the people of this district are thoroughly earnest- m desiring to see the port placed m a reasonable state of defence. More than that, the Government must admit, if tbey will take an unprejudiced view of the question, that m making a moderate request for an exceedingly small share of the protection which is being accorded to other ports, we are only asking what the barest sense of justice would yield to us as our right. The danger against which we desire some small measure of defence is not of an imaginary kind, as the Colonial Treasurer would have us believe, bnt has been impressed upon us time after time by the highest authorities on the subject. Actually while the Defence meeting was being held on Wednesday night a telegram was received m this office reiterating m the strongest terms the opinion of His Excellency the Governor that it was the first duty of the colonial Government to fortify the ports of New Zealand, and that the position with regard to Russia was very serious. Furthermore the Governor quoted the opinion of a distinguished German officer to the effect that sooner or later England and Russia must come into conflict. We have , shown on previous occasions what would be the position of these colonies m the event of such a collision. They wonld form one of the first points against which Russia would direct her means of offence. Usually the Northern Power is very furtive and treacherous m her movements, bnt strange to say, this is a matter about which concealment has never been attempted. In 1878 when war with England appeared imminent, cruisers were actually purchased and fitted up m America by the Russian Government for the purpose of attacking these colonies. The project was taken up by the people with the greatest enthusiasm. A Committee was formed at Moscow, with the Czarewitch as President, and brandies were formed tbroughout the Empire to collect subscriptions on behalf of what may be termed a " Cruiser Fund." A number of steamers were purchased by this, agency, and even after the danger of an immediate collision had passed away the plan was still " kept steadily in.view." In fact it developed into more ambitious dimensions, and it is believed that at the present time there exists a veiy complete scheme for letting loose a number of fast, well-armed cruisers, immediately on the declaration of war with Great Britain, to prey on otiv colonies and commerce. So much for the general aspect of the question. In regard to the particular case of tbis district, the gentlemen who took part m the meeting on Wednesday night are to be congratulated on the business-like way m which they had compiled information as to the interests locally at stake, and the convincing manner m which they were able to dispel the very flimsy arguments brought forward by Sir Julius Yogel m favor of a policy of inaction. Indeed so feeble was his reasoning that we must do the Colonial Treasurer the justice to say we believe he was rather taken by surprise by the deputation, and spoke without having had time to think over the question. That is the only way m which we can account for a man of his astuteness being betrayed into such miserably weak apologies for arguments. If it were not so serious a matter for this distiict, there would be something very laughable m the position which Sir Julius Yogel takes up. First, he asks us to believe that Russian privateering cut-throats are such an extremely high-minded set of gentlemen that they wouldn't think of attacking a port that was not defended. This puts these amiable people m an entirely new light, and assuming it to be true, why, m the name of all that is sensible, is the Government, pledged as it is to rigid economy, proposing to spend £400,000 on the defence of Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, thereby, accoi-ding to the Colonial Treasurer's view, laying them j open to attack, whereas before they I were perfectly safe ? If Russian cruisers I are so magnanimous that they won't attack undefended ports, why spend a lot of money m defending the harbors of this colony, thereby at once inviting an onslaught ? The argument, of course, is of the weakest description, and will not bear serious consideration. Then again if the Russians should happen to forget theii* chivalrous instincts, and are rude enough to come to our port, we are gravely advised to j treat them to a sort of " Hunt-the- j slipper" game. We are to send our! bullion to Christchurcil or Dunedin, I and then rest calm m the assurance) that the privateering gentlemen will at j once go away quietly, apologising for having troubled us. *' The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel," and with all due deference to Sir Julius we are afraid that those of Russian adventurers stand on pretty much the same footing. At any rate, trustful and confiding as we are m this district, this is the point at which we should like to draw the line of our child-like faith. The truth is, there is not a single argument which can bo used against the necessity of fortifying Timaru which does not apply with equal force to any other port m, the colony. In regard to the interests at stake, one of the speakers at the late meeting pointed out that, taking that part of the town exposed to danger from shelling, and leaving out all public buildings ' and places of worship, 'the value of the structures alone was half a million. This, of course does not include the contents of the buildings, and we do not exactly see why churches, &c, should be excluded, as, with the sincerest desire to do justice to Sir Julius Vogel's friends, we are afraid they would as soon " let fly " at a church aa at a public-house. Indeed, if we are correctly informed aa to their predilec-

tions, they would rather aim at the former, since there would be a risk of spoiling good liquor m the latter case, which, of course, does not exist m the former. To protect all the amount of property indicated, the district asks for an expenditure of £4000 — just a hundredth part of that proposed to be laid out on four other ports m the colony. The request is so reasonable that we hope it willbe very strongly urged on the Oolonial Treasurer on his return visit, and if uctuccessful, then that it will be again and again pressed on the attention of the Government until justice is done to this district. It should be borne m mind thafc the question is nofc one to be advocated merely m time of panic. The contingency is one that always has to be faced, and should be provided for as early as possible. If ifc is leffc till a " scare " occurs, it is quite possible that sufficient time for putting our house m order may not be left to us. When the convincing array of facts and figures now being prepared by the Oommittee is laid before the Oolonial Treasurer, however, we hope thafc he will see reason to modify the views which he seems to have formed too hastily on the occasion of his visit the other day.