*
:
13
518
a
of the Colony and its naval station came to prevail.
I
would here mention that according to the General Officer
Commanding one of the most important functions of the North
Point Battery is the sweeping of the slopes of the opposite
hills and the protection thus afforded to their summits
against being taken in reverse.
This function and the pro-
tection of the North shore of the harbour against the land-
ing of troops from ships that had forced an entrance to it
would not be effected by any buildings on the proposed
reclamation.
8.
I trust that I have made clear that any
possible disadvantage that might accrue to the battery from
the reclamation is of comparatively little importance com-
pared with the disadvantage of restricting the commercial
development of the Colony by preventing the utilization of
the sites most convenient for such development.
Another
point which though of less importance should not be over-
looked is the heavy direct loss which would result to the
Colonial Government by stopping the sale of sites for
reclamation or by imposing conditions as to buildings
which would make such areas unsaleable, That within the
arc of fire of the guns at North Point Battery is 47 acres
the value of which at the same rates as Messrs. George
Fenwick