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sent into those parts of the world. The "Alexandra " would hardly go in with her bilge-keels on, though there is room enough for the section of the ship. It is not of much importance for ships of that class to be accommodated, for they are not likely to go there (5388-5394, 5409). With the exception of the dock, to which it is desirable that the Queen's ships should have free access, the new harbour works at Table Bay will not be of much use to Her Majesty's ships. A inercantile dock would be generally full of mercan- tile vessels, lying two or three deep sometimes, and would be practically of no use to the navy; ships of war could not lie there. The entrance is exposed to the north-west, and large iron-clads are not so easy to handle as to make it desirable to send them in amongst a number of small vessels. It is doubtful also whether iron-clad ships could be coaled at the jetty (5397-5400).
It would be unnecessary to have a naval establish- ment at Table Bay in addition to the one at Simon's Bay. The existing buildings at Amsterdam Battery would be of no use to the navy. Fresh buildings would have to be erected at considerable cost, and involving large annual expenditure; moreover, the battery is separated from the sea by a railway and a road (5401-5404). Convenient access to the sea is a necessity. There does not seem to be any place suitable for a naval establishment in Table Bay (5408). The anchorage in Table Bay is protected only by a breakwater, and would not afford accommodation for a squadron (5410, 5411). The anchorage in Simon's Bay is all sheltered, and has always proved sufficient in point of space (5412-5414). It has never been seriously proposed to build a dock at Simon's Bay, the expense would be too great (5417).
There is an advantage in not having the naval stores and establishments at Cape Town, where they night afford an excuse for shelling the town. In any case, Simon's Bay will require defence because it is the best port on the coast, and is so near Cape Town that it could not be suffered to pass into an enemy's possession (5419–5421).
Docks. The only Admiralty Docks in the Colonies capable of taking in ships of war are at Malta and Bermuda (5427-5431). There is a first-class dock at Melbourne, which, having been made under an agree- ment with the Imperial Government, is almost as good as our own. It will take in ships of the class of the "Alexandra." There is a comparatively small dock at Sydney, which belongs to the Colonial Government (5432). A dock of considerable size is being built at Esquimalt, to which the Admiralty have agreed to contribute 50,000-nearly half the cost (5434-5437). At Bombay there is a hydraulic lift dock which was intended for iron-clads of a certain class. It has never been used for that purpose, and it is doubtful whether it could be so used (5436). The Hope Dock at Aberdeen, Hong Kong, has 24 feet of water on the sill at high water of ordinary spring tides, but the tides are uncertain, and so great a depth can seldom be maintained. The "Iron Duke" and the Invincible," which draw much less water, often have a difficulty in getting in; moreover, the floor of the dock being level with the sill at the entrance, the height of the blocks has to be taken off the available depth. Negotiations have recently been entered into with the Company by the Admiralty for deepening and widening the dock sufficiently to take in the largest classes of ships, at a cost of 20,000l. (5443- 5445). The dock has the disadvantage of being situated outside the line of defence (5448). There are one or two private docks at Kowloon, the largest of which, called the Cosmopolitan Dock, is double, and has a rather narrow entrance between the two parts, which would make it inconvenient for men-of- war, even if it were deep and wide enough. Kow- loon would be open to attack on the land side, being situated on the mainland of China (5449-5450). The French have a fine dock at Martinique (5432).
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[1103]
Vice-Admiral Sir J. E. COMMERELL, V.C., K.C.B.
Simon's Bay. The Cape is indispensable as a coaling-station, both for commercial and warlike purposes (5452, 5453). For the purposes of Her Majesty's ships the naval establishment at Simon's Bay is sufficient (5471). With the exception of work requiring the use of a graving-dock, any repairs might be executed there (5484).
The anchorage at Simon's Bay is good, but might be much improved by considerable expenditure; ships are only prevented from coaling in north-easters (5472-5474, 5481). The dockyard is very complete, and a great deal of work can be done in the factory, but if large works or repairs to iron-clads had to be undertaken, it would be necessary to increase it. The expense would not be great, as there is ample ground for extension (5475, 5476). The War Department have sites which would be useful to the navy, and the Admiralty has unoccupied land. There is also a piece of land between the Commodore's house and the dockyard, containing the church and the saluting- battery, which it would be desirable to take in. Part of it belongs to the Colonial Government, and another part to the War Department (5491, 5492). The patent slip ought to be purchased by the Government (5477). It will only take vessels of 700 tons, and should be enlarged to take ships of the "Active" class (2,300 tons) (5495-5502). The factory should be increased, and a steam-hammer and appliances for the repair of boilers should be provided. A larger boat-house would also be required, and increased facilities for coaling. With sufficient boats and labour, three ships might be supplied with 300 tons in fifteen hours each. The storehouses are sufficient for all purposes (5475-5483).
The powder-magazine and stores are adequate for the supply of the fleet as far as space is concerned, but they are much exposed (5487, 5488). It has been in contemplation to build a new magazine up the kloof (5489).
In any case, Simon's Bay must be defended (5468), and for defence a powerful iron fort on the Roman Rocks is a necessity. The extent of rock showing above water is not great, and the lighthouse takes up a considerable space, but there is a flat rock near which would afford a suitable site (5503-5517). Quite a large cluster of rocks is visible at low-water spring tide, though hardly large enough for such a fort as those at Spithead (5518, 5519). There ought in addition to be a battery to prevent ships from lying to the southward and firing over the land into the dockyard (5520-5523). Except during strong south- easters, there are landings round Miller's Point under the lee of the rocks, and if the battery ridge is not protected, an enemy might come in that way (5524, 5525, 5532, 5533). There are three beaches where fishing-boats sometimes land, between Kalk Bay and Simon's Bay, but no landing-places that can be depended upon. There is a fair landing in Gordon's Bay (5526-5531).
Table Bay. Simon's Bay should be the main coaling place, and there should be means of coaling at Table Bay also (5486). Her Majesty's ships should have access to the dock at Cape Town, which should be adequately protected by fortifications (5468–5470). But Table Bay can never be made a sufficiently good anchorage for the Queen's ships. The extension of the breakwater will not give sufficient accommodation for the Queen's ships and for the mercantile marine; it would, moreover, be objectionable to mix up the two together (5455-5457, 5464-5466). There was great doubt whether two Russian frigates of 3,000 or 4,000 tons could anchor safely under the break- water (5461-5463). Even if a squadron had to be kept a considerable time in Table Bay, the dockyard at Simon's Bay would still be necessary; the ships could coal one by one at Simon's Bay, and come round very quickly (5458-5460). In 1817 the naval establishment was moved from Simon's Bay to Table Bay, but it was soon brought back again, owing to
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