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through the surf on the Back beach; with such boats no enemy's cruizer would be provided, and your Sub-Committee are of opinion that even were an attempt made to land, it could be successfully resisted with the Imperial and Colonial land forces, which could be mustered locally.
At present there is nothing to prevent an enemy's ship from-
(a.) Shelling the town of Durban, or laying it under a contribution to avoid being shelled.
(b.) Making prizes of, or destroying any number of, the vessels in the roadstead.
3. Your Sub-Committee are of opinion that the danger to the shipping in the road- stead and to the town, as above stated, could only be prevented (assuming that no English man-of-war be available) by the erection of a heavy battery on the bluff, and of another on the sand-hills at the Point or Addington. By the term "battery," expensive permanent works are not intended, but merely heavy guns placed in position behind simple and inexpensive earthworks.
4. Your Sub-Committee think that, to render the defence of the port complete, each of these batteries should consist of two 18-ton guns; they are advised that these guns could be worked efficiently by the volunteer artillery if properly trained beforehand, with the aid of an officer and a few experienced gunners of the Royal Artillery.
5. Your Sub-Committee are unable to suggest any cheaper means of defending the port.
The vocabulary price of an 18-ton gun is 1,1781., and the cost of each round is about 51. Tus. Od.
The exact site of each battery should be fixed by the officer commanding Royal Artillery.
6. The removal of the buoys in the channel and in the neighbourhood of the bar should be effected immediately upon the approach of an enemy's cruizer being known, and this removal would occupy but little time.
7. All vessels approaching or passing the Colony are signalled from the bluff signal station immediately upon their being sighted. No further arrangements are therefore thought necessary except to be in communication with the neighbouring Colonies, so as to receive early intimation as to the approach of an enemy's vessel.
8. All the pilots at the port are Government servants, and are under the orders of the Port-Captain.
9. Your Sub-Committee think that, in case of war, it would be very advisable that all vessels with coal on board should be brought inside the harbour, or have their cargo discharged at the outer anchorage as soon after their arrival as possible, so as to prevent an enemy's cruiser from obtaining supplies of coal.
(Signed)
C. K. PEARSON, Colonel, Commandant Troops. A. H. HIME, Captain, R.E., Colonial Engineer.
May 20, 1878.
Inclosure 2 in No. 256.
Extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council.
Ninth Meeting.-Executive Council, May 14, 1878.
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3. HIS Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor laid upon the table a "Secret" circular despatch from the Secretary of State, for the defence of the Colony under special circum-
stances.
The subject referred to the Commandant of troops and the Colonial Engineer for their Report.
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Eleventh Meeting.-June 5, 1878.
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4. Resubmitted Secretary of State's "Secret" circular despatch, relating to the defence of the Colony.
Report of the Sub-Committee, to whom this matter was referred, read.
Resolved :-That this Council deem it advisable to recommend to the Legislative
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