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Appendix No. 4.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.

is the little town of Esquimalt, and through two depressions beyond, one on either side of Signal Hill, the masts of vessels in Constance Cove are so far exposed to view from the outside that, although the hulls of the vessels are hid, good practice can be made at them by an enemy's vessel in Royal Roads.

This unfortunate position of the dockyard is well known to and acknowledged by naval officers who have been at the station, and a proposal was, I understand, made for the removal of the establish- ment to Plumper Bay, at the head of the harbour, where it would be retired about 1,500 yards from an enemy's fire.

The purchase of the ground, the preparation of the site, and the removal of the buildings would involve the outlay of a considerable sum of money, but the present appears to be a more favourable time for such a removal than is ever likely to occur again.

The cost of the buildings at the time of my inspection had not exceeded 20,000Z.; 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 dockyard was not more than 80,000%.

Towards the construction of the new dock (on the completion of which I am informed that 50,000l. is to be paid by the Imperial Government), the land has been purchased for about 4,000%, and the coffer-dam has been made at a cost of 12,000Z.; the pumps, which cost about 10,000, are at Esquimalt, but are not fixed, and tenders have been invited for the completion of the dock, the estimated cost of which is about 140,000/.

Victoria Harbour is shallow and of limited area. 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 diffi- cult 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 slot 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 Macaulay 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 Macaulay 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 10 degrees, until it meets the summit of the 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 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 dockyard 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.*

* 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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