PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The cost of the buildings at the time of my inspection had not exceeded 20,000/.; some are so old and inconvenient that it is in contemplation to replace them with new buildings of a superior class. The value of the stores in the dock. yard was not more than 80,0001.
Towards the construction of the new Dock (on the completion of which I am informed that 50,000/. is to be paid by the Imperial Government), the land has been purchased for about 4,0007., and the coffer-dam has been made at a cost of 12,000.; the pumps, which cost about 10,0001., are at Esquimalt, but are not fixed, and tenders have beeen invited for the completion of the dock, the estimated cost of which is about 140,0001.
Victoria Harbour is shallow and of limited arca. Portage Inlet, which extends from 3 to 4 miles inland, is in many parts dry at low water. The entrance to the harbour is shallow, intricate, and difficult of navigation in consequence of the currents and eddies due to the large body of water that flows in and out of the north arm. The main portion of the city lies about a mile from the entrance and also from the shore line, but could be bombarded by vessels lying off any part of the shore between the entrance to the harbour and Ross Bay, from whence the city can be clearly seen over the intervening low ground.
For the defence of Esquimalt it is necessary that hostile vessels should, if possible, be kept beyond bombarding distance of the dockyard. This could not be effected by batteries at the mouth of the harbour, as they would only be at the same distance from the attacking ship as the latter is from the dockyard, and their shot being directed on the bows of the vessel could not have much effect, therefore batteries must be established outside the mouth of the harbour.
The entrance to Victoria Harbour could be closed against an enemy by a few ground-mines, and all that appears necessary is to provide for keeping an enemy beyond bombarding distance from the city.
The positions suitable for batteries are Albert Head, on the west shore of the Royal Roads, Sangster's Knoll, about midway between Albert Head and the mouth of Esquimalt Harbour; the hills or rocks at Rodd Point and Duntze Head at the entrance of that harbour, Brothers' Island in front of Duntze Head; Signal Hill, overlooking the dockyard; Cape Saxe and Macauley Point, between Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours; Holland Point, Myers Point, Finlayson Point, and Clover Point, east of Victoria Harbour, and Beacon Hill, about 250 yards from the shore behind Finlayson Point.
Albert Head is a bold mass of bare rugged rock, whose summit, about 65 feet above the sea, and about 100 yards in diameter, would be a good position for a work to command the northern part of Parry Bay and the southern part of Royal Roads. The ground falls towards the shore, but soon rises to a height that commands the head. A work on this point being far from any support, and liable to be turned by the roads from Sooke Inlet and Pedder Bay, would require to be self-defensible, and its construction on this bare rock would be very costly. The distances to the opposite shore, viz., 9,400 yards to Holland Point, 6,400 yards to Macauley Point, and 6,100 yards to Cape Saxe, are too great to be effectually covered by even the largest guns.
Sangster's Knoll is the north-eastern corner of a plain about 240 feet above the sea, from which the ground falls to the east towards Royal Roads at a slope of ten degrees, until it meets the summit of the earth cliff, which at this point is about 100 feet in height. Towards the north the plain ends in a steep slope, at the base of which is the Coburg Lagoon. From this knoll, which is about 150 yards from the edge of the water, can be seen Albert Head and Royal Roads up to the entrance of Esquimalt Harbour. The site is now covered with large timber, some of which would require to be cleared away. The soil is of a very friable nature. There is a copious spring of excellent water at the base of the hill. Towards the north the ground has a slight downward slope inland, but it is so covered with trees that the details could not be observed with accuracy.
Rodd Hill is a ridge of bare rocks rising to a height of 75 feet above the sea level. The summit is narrow, but of sufficient length for emplacements for two guns to flank the beach of Royal Roads, and command that part of the water under Sangster's Knoll upon which the guns mounted on that point could not be depressed. There is also space for four guns to fire upon the outer anchorage, and to command the entrance to the harbour.
About 450 yards to the north of Rodd Hill is a large mass of bare rock rising
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to a height of about 140 feet above Rodd Hill, and in itself commanded by a hill to the north-west,
A battery might be constructed on this rock, but the expense would be large on account of the quantity of blasting that would be necessary.
If the clockyard was removed to Plumper Bay a good site for a battery would be found on the rocky head behind Scrogg's Rocks. With the dockyard in its present position a battery at this point would only serve to attract the fire of the enemy on the principal object to be defended.
Signal Hill, a large mound of rock close to the east of the town of Esquimalt, has space on its summit, 140 feet above the sea level, for two large counterpoise or central pivoting guns in pits.*
They would be most useful to fire upon the decks of vessels entering the harbour, to command the road leading to the rear of Rodd Hill and the higher ground behind that hill, with the bridge and road at the head of the harbour, to cover the hills on the eastern side of the harbour, to flank the shore toward Macauley Point, and, if of large calibre, to give effective fire upon the entrance of Victoria Harbour and upon the outer roads,
Brothers' Island, in front of Signal Hill, consists of two parallel ridges of rock lying in a north and south direction, and having between them a mass of earth into which the sea has made, and is making, such deep inroad, that it seems pro- bable the island will, in a few years, be divided into two parts; the surface of the island is of limited area and irregular form, and is not suitable for the construction of a permanent work. The island is cut off from the mainland by a channel 300 yards wide and 18 feet deep.
Cape Saxe and Macauley Point are merely projecting portions of the clay cliff, on a substratum of rock, which has, to some extent, prevented these points from being washed away by the waves as rapidly as the cliff on each side of them; they offer about equal facilities for the construction of a battery. Cape Saxe, where the battery would be about 35 feet above the sea, has the advantage of being the nearer to Sangster's Knoll by about 700 yards, and therefore is a better site for a battery if Esquimalt alone can be considered. Macauley Point has the advantage of about 10 feet more height above the sea, and, being the more prominent, is better suited for a battery if the two harbours are considered together.
The four points to the eastward of Victoria Harbour are of similar character to Cape Saxe and Macauley Point; they slightly differ in themselves, and in their height above the sea.
Holland Point, 20 feet above the sea, is a good position for a battery of small guns to defend the entrance to Victoria Harbour, and to flank the beach.
This site was proposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine for one of the temporary batteries, but not approved, as the proprietors of the land asked 400 dollars for the site.
Myers Point is only deserving of notice on account of a temporary battery having been placed upon it instead of on Holland Point.
Finlayson Point, 55 feet above the sea, is a good position to flank the shore between Holland and Clover Points, and also to command the water in front, but an intervening hill on the east masks its fire upon Ross Bay, from whence the city of Victoria can be bombarded as effectually as from any other part of the roads. The summit of the small projecting mass at Finlayson Point does not afford room for a battery, which would therefore have to be retired to about the general line of the shore. Guns mounted on this and Holland Point being only 1,200 yards apart would be unnecessarily close together.
Clover Point is open, level ground, about 20 feet above the sea, and would afford ample room for a battery. Guns mounted here would command the water towards Holland Point, and would prevent vessels from lying or disembarking troops in Ross Bay.
Beacon Hill, about 250 yards behind Finlayson Point, rises to a height of 140 feet above the level of the sea. Heavy guns on its summit would command the entrance to Victoria Harbour, the shore and water from Holland to Finlayson Points, and see into Ross Bay, over the hills behind Clover Point, and if the flank guns were mounted on counterpoise or central pivoting guns in pits, they would
On drawing out the plan for the work on this hill it was found that one gun only could be mounted without great expense in blasting.-J. W. L.
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