CO885-5 — Page 410

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

To te

Reference :-

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

376

DUNEDIN.

Taiaroa Head.-Finished with exception of one 6-inch gun, test-room, and details. Ocean Beach Battery.-About two-thirds completed. Lawyer's and Forbury. Two 8-inch gun-pits to be made. Submarine Defences.-One month to complete.

Torpedo Boat and Equipment.-Complete.

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE WORKS, PROGRESS REPORT, 6th December 1886. During the months of April, May, June, and July 1885, temporary works for the guns in the Colony had been constructed. These consisted of the necessary approach- roads, foundations for the guns, and temporary wooden magazines for the storage of the ammunition, There were no submarine defences. Since August 1885, the following works have been carried out :-

AUCKLAND.

North Head (Fort 'Cautley.)—Permanent pits for the two 7-inch guns have been completed for side loading. The magazines have been covered and fitted, and the ammunition filled and stored, roady for service. An emplacement for an 8-inch B.L.R. gun, with its magazines, has been added, and also emplacements for two 6-pounder Nordenfeldt guns.

The barracks have been completed.

The necessary observing stations are nearly completed, and the enclosing of the work, the formation of musketry parapets, ditches, entrance, gateway, &c., is nearly finished.

Lower Battery, North Side.-The 7-inch gun-pit and magazine has been completed; also the musketry parapet, ditches, and artillery store. The excavation for the 8-inch B.L.R. gun is in hand.

Lower Battery, South Side.-The 64-pounder gun-pit and magazines are completed, also ditches and musketry parapets. The whole of the ammunition for both these batteries has also been filled and stored, ready for service. The 8-inch R.B.L. gun-pit and magazine will be shortly started. The connecting roadway and parapet between the lower batteries is also completed, and a tramway laid for the electric light and for the machine guns on travelling carriages.

Takapuna Point.-Emplacements for two 6-inch R.B.L. guns are completed, except the foundations for the iron-work (this is on the way to Auckland now).

The

magazines are finished and fitted. Artillery stores, musketry parapets, observing- stations, and pits for two machine guns are also completed. The covered barrack in rear is being constructed.

Bastion Point.-A work similar to Takapuna has been constructed, and is completed with the exception of the barracks and portions of the ditch wall and covering carth-work.

Point Resolution. The pits for two 64-pounder guns are completed, the magazines covered with concrete, fitted, and the ammunition filled and stored ready for service. The ditches, musketry parapets, gateways, &c. are all completed.

Mount Victoria. The parapets and excavations for the pits and magazines are taken out. Four 64-pounder guns will be mounted.

Submarine Defences.-A complete submarine mining station, consisting of mine store sheds, workshops, electrical fitting shops, test rooms, with necessary tramway and jetty, have been erected, and the whole is ready for instruction of volunteers and for service. The whole of the submarine mining stores and plant necessary for laying down a complete mine field (with the exception of the cable, now on the way) has been received, and the torpedo detachment have started to load and fit up the mines, so as to be able to lay the whole down in a few days when required. Store sheds for loaded mines, gun-cotton pits connecting up ground, and pit for testing live charges has been provided at Bastion Point, so that the submarine defences for Auckland are complete.

Electric Light.-An engine-room blindage for the electric light has been constructed at the North Head, and the electric light (which is of the most powerful description

377

yet made) is to hand, complete in every detail. erected.

It has been tested and is now being

Torpedo Boats.-The torpedo boat has been put in thorough order, and is being fitted for the Whitehead, lately received. Fittings for two other Whitehead boats, and one spar boat are also to hand, and thus three more launches could be made available, if required, for torpedo service or for guard boats. The necessary store sheds, slip, engine shed, and workshop have been provided for carrying out all work.

WELLINGTON.

Fort Ballance.-Two 7-inch gun-pits are complete, also magazines. The remainder of the work, consisting of 6-inch gun-pit, magazine, engine room, test-room, barracks, ditches, and stockades, two pits for machine guns, station for electric light and observing, entrance gate and bridge will be completed in about a month's time.

Kaiwarra. The pits for the two 64-pounder guns are complete, also magazines, artillery store, barrack, observing station, stockade, and parapets. The ammunition is all filled and stored ready for service.

Ngauranga. The pits of the two 6-inch R.B.L. guns are complete, except the iron foundations now being put in. The magazines, artillery stores, barracks, ditches, stockades, and observing station are all nearly complete.

Kau Point. This work will be commenced on the completion of Fort Ballance. It will consist merely of a pit for an 8-inch R.B.L. gun and small magazine.

Point Halswell.-One 7-inch and one 64-pounder gun have been mounted, and a temporary magazine erected. Pits for two 8-inch R.B.L. guns, two machine guns with the necessary covering works, will have to be erected. These will be put in hand as soon as Ngauranga is finished.

Mount Crawford.-Part of the parapets and ditches have been made, but no work has been done at this battery for a long time.. It is intended merely to protect the rear of the other works, and could easily be constructed in a month if necessary.

Submarine Defences.-Completo submarine mining stations as at Auckland have been provided, and this is ready fitted and available for instruction of volunteers, or for actual service. The whole of the submarine mining plant, except cable (now shipped), has been stored, and the mines and other plant are being loaded and stored ready for actual service. The stores connecting up ground test pit for live charges, gun cotton pit, tramway, jetty, and all necessary appliances have been provided to lay down the mines most expeditiously.

Torpedo Boats.-The necessary slip, shed, store shed, engine-room, and workshop for the Whitehead torpedoes have been provided, and the boat is in thorough order and fitted with trapping gear. Apparatus is also ready for fitting two more boats with Whiteheads, and one with the spar torpedo, when required for guard duty.

LYTTELTON.

Ripa Island.-Pits for two 8-inch and also for two 6-inch guns are nearly complete. The necessary magazines, engine-room, test-room, artillery store, observing stations are in hand. The island is being enclosed by a scarp wall and musketry parapet, and barracks for the garrison will be put in hand shortly. The work is about half finished altogether.

Battery Point. Two 7-inch guns have been mounted; the pits, magazines, artillery stores, and covering parapet, with the exception of one passage, are complete. The ammunition is all filled and stored ready for service.

Spur Battery-One 64-pounder gun has been mounted, and the pit, magazine, artillery store, and covering parapet are completed. The ammunition is all filled and stored ready for service.

Erskine Point.-One 64-pounder gun is being mounted, the magazine is completed, the pit and covering parapets are progressing and half finished.

Submarine Mining Station.-This station is being provided at Ripa Island, and the remainder of it is all ready for erection. The store shed and workshops have been erected. The small space available for carrying out the work has prevented this work being completed. All stores are to hand.

3 G 2

1