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light emplacement near (A). The War Office consider it too close to the position of the observing station proposed at the same time, and think it would be better if the light could be placed lower down and nearer the beach.

The case of the lights now stands as follows: -The War Office and the local authorities have agreed as to the sites for the search-light on the western side of the harbour, and for its engine-room and plans and estimates have been called for (26/8/97). The War Office and the local authorities have agreed as to the general positions for the fixed and search beams on the castern side of the harbour, but the exact sites of the emplacements for these beams and for the engine - room from which they are to be worked is still under discussion.

Quick-Firing Guns.-When Major Muirhead and Lieutenant Boothby reported in March 1896, 2-6-pr. Q.-F. guns had been approved for Esquimalt. These they proposed should be mounted near Duntze Head, at the points (E) and (F) (on the plan accompanying their Report), whence their fire could be directed on the whole of the entrance of the harbour, and the water in front of it which was to be illuminated by the electric light that had been proposed. They were of opinion, however, that these 2-6-pr. Q.-F. guns were inadequate for the defence of the mine-field, and that provision should be made for two more, for which excellent sites (J) and (K) could be found on the high land at the south of the Admiralty Reserve on the eastern shore. "Guns in this position would serve not only to protect the mine-field, but also the coast between the Naval Yard and Macaulay Point, from any force attempting to land in order to attack the mine defence from the land side."

The Admiral (5/4/96) concurred in this view.

The number, nature, and position of the quick-firing guns were discussed at length at the War Office, and it was ultimately decided that 4-12-pr. Q.-F. guns should be provided in place of the 2-6-prs. formerly approved, and already at the Station. Two of these guns are intended for the positions (J) and (K), recommended by the Local Committee, and would have under fire hostile vessels while still at some distance from the harbour entrance, and advancing from the direction of Cape Saxe. The other two guns were to be on the western side of the harbour near Rodd Hill. In selecting these sites, the position and direction of the examination-line were not expressly considered.

Financial provision has been made for the guns and works, but the decision with regard to them has not been communicated to the Colony, nor have the exact sites been selected.

4. From the foregoing it will be seen that the following action still requires to be taken in connection with the mine-field defence, electric lights, and quick-firing guns at Esquimalt:-

(1.) The plan of the mine-field proposed by the War Office requires Admiralty approval and communication to the Station. The test-room and observing station have still to be built.

(2.) The examination-line and anchorage and the Rules for the regulation of traffic require settlement.

(3.) Admiralty concurrence in the number, nature, and general position of the electric lights agreed to by the War Office and the local authorities is required, the detailed positions of emplacements and engine-rooms on the eastern shore have to be settled, and all emplacements and engine-rooms have to be built.

(4.) The positions for the quick-firing guns have to be fixed and the emplacc- ments and magazines constructed.

5. The Colonial Defence Committee report as follows:-

(1.) They recommend that the plan of the mine-field proposed by the War Office, and shown in block on the Map annexed to Major Muirhead and Lieutenant Boothby's Report of March 1896, should receive Admiralty approval, subject to its front limit being altered so as to bring it behind the examination-line as described below.

(2.) They recommend that the examination-line should proceed from a Q.F. gun battery near the south end of the Admiralty Reserve, and should be directed on some object on the opposite shore, such as the house marked on the 6-inch Survey as

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," if it is clearly visible, or if not, on some prominent object as near to it as possible.

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(3.) They recommend that the Admiralty should concur in the number, nature,

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