A SOURCE OF DANGER.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 949, 6 March 1897, Page 2

A SOURCE OF DANGER.

Mi Napier's Coal Depot Scheme.

It is beyond question that Mr W. J. Napier has at heart the best interests of Auckland in his proposal to store 1000 tons of coal in our harbour, so that British warships may depend upon obtaining fuel supplies here in the event of war occurring. The proposal is practically the first step towards making Auckland a coaling station, and enabling us to get a slice from the Imperial vote for the establishment and defence of colonial coaling stations. But it is more than probable that the scheme in view would expose us to dangers whose magnitude would be ont of all proportion to the benefits that might probably accrue to us.

Auckland is a very isolated part of the world after all, and, being fairly-well fortified, there is a reasonable probability that we wonld be forgotten altogether, or severely left alone, in the event of war. Certainly, the amount of bullion to be exacted from our banks would not be a strong inducement to casual cruisers to imperil their own existence by trying to force our batteries. Bat there are times when cruisers Bhert of coal, and therefore helpless, would fight against great odds for the poseession of a well-filled coal hulk. And it is just possible that Mr Napier's thousand tons of coal, moored conveniently to deep water anchorage, wonld attract more hostile cruisers to our offing than the

hope of exacting heavy tribute from our banks would.

That coal would become a worry to us in time of war. We would not dare to close our eyes in peaceful slumber because of it. The fear that a cruiser was coming to seize it and replenish her bunkers would fill us with constant dread and would occasion perpetual alarms. And, finally, when we had stood this worry as long as we could, we would scuttle the hulk in the deepest part of the harbour, and send • her condemned coals to- the bottom with her, and then post haste cable to Russia or. any other hostile power that we

hadn't enough coals to light our own kitchen fire with, and that we had absolutely and unconditionally retired from the naval coal and firewood trade.

But, seriously speaking, the establishment in the harbour of such a coal depot aa Mr Napier proposes would be to court attack from foreign war-vessek requiring coal. The coal depot idea is a good one, provided that the coal was not easily accessible to a foe, and the purpose Mr Napier has in view might be better served by establishment of a store at the railway junction at Fenrose, where the coal would be equally available for friendly ships in either the Auckland or Manukau Harbour, and where a foreigner would find some difficulty in plundering it. This suggestion is not a new one, practical effect having been given to it at the time of the Russian scare, when the flagship Nelson caused 800 tons of coal to be stored at Penrose for the use of vessels of the Australian Squadron in the event of an emergency. The plan that was considered to be ex« pedient then ought to be the wisest now. But don't let us have any store of coal in the harbour to attract hostile cruisers in war-time like flies around a honey-pot