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Mine-field. The position proposed by the War Office for the mine-field is that shown on the plan accompanying the printed copy of Major Muirhead and Lieutenant Boothby's Report of the 30th March, 1896, and stated by Admiral Stephenson in his letter covering that Report to be "the only practicable one, as it effectually closes the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour." It is 700 yards deep, and is to consist of thirty-two 100 lb. E. C. mines, with four 50 lb. E. C. mines in the shallow water under Rodd Point, and twenty-two 500 lb. observation mines in a friendly channel 200 yards wide, corresponding with the fairway into the harbour.

In the local Report of the 30th March, 1896, it was proposed to place the observa- tion-station and test-room for the mine-field both in the Admiralty Reserve on the cast of the harbour entrance, the former opposite the centre of the mine-field at the point (A) (see plan annexed to printed Report), and the latter either in close proximity to it, which would have the advantage of placing the operator in easy communication with the observer, or at the point (D), opposite the northern limit of the mine-field, near which it was then proposed that the shore ends of the cables should be landed. The Admiral preferred the former site. The War Office appear also to have been of this opinion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Muirhead has now (16/11/97) submitted a large scale site plan, locating observation-station and test-room both near (A). The proposed sites are considered suitable by the War Office, but they have not as yet been finally approved.

Submarine Mining Store Buildings.-The completion of these buildings is being dealt with by the War Office, and it is unnecessary to further refer to them here.

Examination Line.--The direction of the examination-line and the position of its shore end have not yet been considered, nor have any arrangements been suggested for regulation of traffic in war.

Electric Lights. Major Muirhead and Lieutenant Boothby proposed (30/3/96) a fixed beam on the promontory at the southern end of the Naval Yard (B), which could be directed across the entrance to the harbour so as to cover the water immediately in front of the mine-field, and a search beam near Rodd Hill, on the west side of the harbour (H), to search all the water outside it, and, if necessary, to follow vessels into Constance Cove. They also recommended a second search beam on Cape Saxe (L), which would light up all the small bays and indentations in the coast, both towards the dockyard as well as Macaulay Point and the Naval Yard, which is so accessible for boats.

The Admiral pointed out (5/4/96) the isolated position of a light placed here, but suggested its supply pending the selection of a more suitable site.

The War Office (12/5/97) agreed to the search beam near Rodd Hill (H), but in place of the fixed beam at the southern end of the Admiralty Reserve (B), proposed a position for it at the northern end (D), whence the mine-field could be illuminated. The search-light suggested at Cape Saxe (L) was not considered necessary; but a light of this nature near the high ground at (A), opposite the centre of the mine-field, was proposed.

Replying to these proposals, a Local Joint Naval and Military Committee (28/6/97) thought it would be better to site the fixed beam at a point to the south- west of (A), at about 25 feet above the water, whence the area in front of the mine- field could be better lighted while leaving the mine-field itself un-illuminated. They recommended that the eastern scarch-light should be exhibited from the southern pro- montory of the Admiralty Reserve.

The War Office (26/8/97) pointed out that it was desirable to light up the mine- field itself, more especially with the object of illuminating an enemy's torpedo-boat or other vessel to the view of the observer who has charge of the firing of the lines of mines, and to have the search-light in such proximity to the fixed beam that the two could be worked from one engine-room. They therefore adhered to their proposals of 12/5/97 unless there were other local objections.

The Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, in a further Report (21/9/97) stated that there were no other local objections, and suggested a site for an engine-room to work the two lights, as proposed by the War Office, for the eastern side of the harbour. The War Office consider the site selected to be too close to (A), and that a suitable position might be found not more than 250 yards from either (A) or (D).

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Later Lieutenant-Colonel Muirhead (25/10/97) suggested site for the electric

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