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Appendix No. 4.

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

Naval station to be on south side of Stanley Harbour.

Suppositions (a) and (b).

The present "Dockyard."

Proposed extension.

Provision required by the Colony.

East Stanley.

Advantage.

Objection to East Stanley.

Buildings in shelter.

Water supply.

Description of ground to be de- fended.

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For the greater part of the year the prevailing strong winds from the south-west give it a lee shore.

On the northern slope of this peninsula the ground is more suitable for a depôt, but, on account of the swell in Port William, basins would have to be constructed, and these works would be partly exposed to view, and to distant fire of an enemy entering Port William.

There would be a difficulty in the matter of water supply in this peninsula, which is also cut off from the settlement.

It seems advisable, both to Captain Loftus Jones, R.N., and myself, to prefer for the naval depôt a position on the south side of Stanley Harbour, and, with this object, two spots have been considered.

There is some doubt as to the space required to fulfil one of the "suppositions," of which two are given, viz. :—

(a.) "Supposing that the port is to be used as a port of refuge and as a refitting station." (b.) "Supposing that it is to be used only as a depôt, at which ships may take in coals and provisions."

It is presumed that the mercantile marine would only have the benefit of the naval depôt in war times.

The ground now occupied by the Colonial Government for store and police purposes, which is called "the Dockyard," would be made to answer for either case by extension along the shore and by purchase of several plots of ground.

The situation is on the west of the small town of Stanley. It projects into the harbour, and measures 800 feet along the straight Ross Road, with an average breadth of 150 feet between the road and the shore.

Across the road, to the south, is ground, at present unoccupied, rising 30 feet in 500 to the small wooden barrack building.

To the west more frontage could be taken in, as far as the water-course; and behind this the land further back than the line of the barrack might be obtained by arrangement with the Government and by purchasing from individuals. These lots would contain six policemen's cottages and two or three more, with gardens, &c., of several people. Also the police-station, including three Government quarters.

Provision would then have to be made for colonial stores and landing-place, colonial police-court, colonial police-station, Colonial Governinent quarters, colonial pilot's quarters and anchorage, three private tenements, and several gardens.

If another 60 yards of shore were included on the east of the dockyard, the frontage would be 530 yards.

This ground throughout (except where gardens stand) bears a more solid surface for present use than any unoccupied situation would have.

To the east of Stanley there is abundance of rough land which lies well for a naval station and depôt, and for a military station.

It extends from the present cemetery to beyond the point opposite the entrance of Stanley Harbour, where there is a breadth of 700 feet between the edge of the shore and the 40-foot contour-line. The whole length is more than a mile.

There is more nearly level ground here than elsewhere. The water frontage is not deeper than in front of the present dockyard, but it is opposite the most roomy anchorage near the entrance of Stanley Harbour.

This situation would be most handy for the shipping, but it would also be more within reach of an enemy's long-range firing, whether entering Port William or manœuvring along the south coast.

A heavy armament would then be necessary at Hooker's Point and on the south coast.

The buildings here would be in shelter, and would be screened from the south by the Murray Heights.

Water could be collected from the Murray Heights in winter at least by surface drainage, and some springs, no doubt, would be found at the foot of the ridge.

The existing Defences.

The existing defences of Port Stanley are nil.

Assistance in Time of War.

The probable assistance in time of war, with the present population, nil. If, however, an important naval station and a mercantile refitting station were established, the population might be increased to 1,500, and from among the various employés, boatmen, and artificers, 300 or 400 very useful volunteers might be got together.

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There would not be enough spare men in camp," ie., in the country, to form a corps

of mounted scouts.

Defence of Port Stanley.

The erection of works for the defence of Port Stanley will be attended with some difficulty, owing to the situation and to the peculiar geological features of the district.

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