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Appendix No. 4.

THURSDAY ISLAND.

Annual expenditure.

Capital cost of scheme.

(d.) Submarine mines, on a very limited and simple scale, if practicable. (e) An armed cruizer.

(2.) The forces to be maintained for these defences should be-

(a.) An artillery force for manning the guns and as a garrison for the battery on Thursday Island. (b.) A detachment of engineers

(c. A naval brigade for the gun-boat and torpedo-launches

(d) An auxiliary irregular infantry force for operating on land

Total

Officers and men.

80

10

60

120

270

(3.) The armed cruizer will have to be considered separately, as it forms part of the colonial naval defences proposed to be established as auxiliary to the Imperial navy.

(4.) For the present, at least, the artillery force would have to be provided by the Imperial Government. In the future, when the defence organizations of the Australian Colonies have been established on a federal basis, the dispatch of a force to occupy Thursday Island might form part of the common agreement entered into by the several Governments.

The probable annual expenditure required for the maintenance of these forces in time of peace cannot be estimated until it is known from what source the officers and men are to be procured. With regard to the custody of the battery on Thursday Island, the Government officials and residents could be made available for the purpose. If the floating defences were to be kept on the spot, an addition would have to be made to the present Government Establishment; but these floating defences might be kept at Cooktown, for example-where it would be possible to organize a Naval Brigade, which could be utilized in time of war.

The capital cost of the scheme of defence, exclusive of the armed vessel, is roughly estimated as follows

£

(1.) Battery on Thursday Island, with armament

35,000

(2) Three launches for harbour work in time of peace, to be fitted as extemporized torpedo.

boats

**

-

4,500

(3.) Gun-boat, carrying one heavy gun (as per War Office estimate) (4.) Small plant of submarine mines

13,000 1,000

(5.) Miscellaneous expenditure for the establishment of a coal depôt, sheds for gun-boat and

launches, jetty, quarters for master gunner, &c. (say)

6,500

Total

A

60,000

Reserves of land. Healthiness of

Thursday Island, &c.

The sums quoted are purely approximate. The exact cost of the battery cannot be ascertained until plans have been prepared. No doubt it could be largely reduced, if only two guns were mounted as already suggested. "All the labour and most of the material would have to be brought to the spot. It is advisable to arrange for the preparation of a contoured survey of the site for the battery, and to sink trial pits in order to ascertain the nature of the ground.

I have not overlooked the question of reserves of land for naval and military defence purposes. A plan of Thursday Island,* prepared by the Surveyor-General's Department at Brisbane, accompanies this Report.

If the several areas marked as reserved for Government and other purposes were permanently set apart, sufficient ground could be found for a naval and military establishment. It is, however, desirable that the Government of Queensland should be communicated with on the subject without delay, as it is to be noted that these reserves, together with the township, absorb all the land fit for occupation. The rest of the island is more or less hilly, and the ground broken and unsuitable. From a sanitary point of view, considering the geographical position of Thursday Island, the Settlement is well situated. It is exposed to the south-east winds, which blow steadily during nine months of the year, and, although the land close to the sea is only a few feet above high-water mark, it rises every- where to the range of hills at the back of the Settlement. The place is considered to be very healthy; there is no sickness, and there have been no deaths since the Government took possession in 1877-78. The south-east winds moderate the temperature to a very great extent, and the unpleasant part of the year is during the north-west monsoon (January to March), when the rainfall is heavy.

Notwithstanding the favourable impression I have formed of the healthiness of the locality, I consider it would be most undesirable to quarter white soldiers, without employment, on Thursday Island in time of peace; although, in time of war, there would be little difficulty in keeping them in good health by adopting ordinary precautions.

P. H. SCRATCHLEY, Colonel, R.E.

December 31, 1881.

(Signed)

APPENDIX (A).

List of Plans, Charts, &c., accompanying Report.*

1. Chart of Northern Australia,

2. Charts (2) of Western Pacific from Portland Bay, Victoria, to 2° Lat. S.

3. Chart of Inner and Outer Routes to Torres Strait.

4. Charts (2) showing Eastern and Western Channels through Torres Strait.

5. Chart of North and East Coasts of Queensland.

6. Map of Queensland, 1881.

7. Map of Queensland, showing proposed Trans-Continental and other Railways, 1881.

8. Plan and Tracing of Thursday Island, Torres Strait.

9. Plan showing Reserves and Township of Port Kennedy at Thursday Island.

* Not printed.

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