COPY.
34
Hon. D.P.W.
The opinion of the Executive Officer of the Architectural
Office was not taken.
I must carry the responsibility for decisions taken as
to the levels at which the galleries were driven and the form of
construction employed.
There was unfortunately no preconceived plan but the
work developed from a series of instruction emanating from H.E.
the O.A.G.
The first instruction called for a communicating link
between the C.S.O. tunnel and Government House.
This link was provided by driving a gallery towards
Government House. The depth of the gallery below Government
House being about 80 feet. To overcome the physical effort of
climbing 80 feet in one 'raise' it was decided to make two 'raises'
with a gallery at the intermediate level. Later instructions
called for the upper gallery to be large enough to provide
temporary refuge for H.E. and Staff and domestics together with
an emergency exit into the grounds.
The point of access originally designed was in the garden and clear of the foundations of the House but H.E. the
O.A.G. required access to be provided from the Strong-room in
the basement and this was accordingly done.
The
The third phase of development then occurred when
instructions were received to provide a Battle Headquarter. logical position for this appeared to be below the basement and so gain the advantage of the protection afforded by the super-
structure.
The nature of the soil through which the galleries were
driven indicated the improbability of any but minor settlement