CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7] — Page 524

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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