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conclusion that the works of defence should be confined to four or five of the principal places, the importance of which warranted the adoption of special measures for their protection. In his detailed recommendations he advocated the protection of the four principal harbours, viz., Auckland and Wellington in North Island, and Lyttelton and Port Chalmers in South Island, by batterics armed with the 7-in. R.M.L. and 64-pr. R.M.L. guns then available in the Colony, to be supplemented by torpedo-boats, which would have to be purchased.

Colonel Scratchley's Report was laid before the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the defence of British possessions and commerce abroad, and they stated, in their second Report, dated the 23rd March, 1882, that--

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Looking to the additional risks to commerce in the Australian seas arising from the coal and supplies which may be obtained by an enemy in the ports of New Zealand, if left undefended, it is most desirable that whatever steps are requisite for the protection of these ports should be taken without delay."

In 1883 Colonel Scratchley, in a General Progress Report, stated that though the Colony was in possession of the requisite guns, and had been supplied with designs for the works, nothing had been done beyond the purchase of four 2nd-class Thornycroft torpedo-boats.

Early in 1885, when it was again thought probable that there would be war with Russia, an appeal was made by the New Zealand Government for special naval protec- tion, and in April of that year Admiral Tryon reported that—

With the exception of the possession of a few guns of moderate calibre and of not a new type, and of, I think, two spar torpedo-boats, New Zealand had practically no defences ready, and very small means to create them."

He also stated that-

"It is clear that the better protected are the harbours and shipping within these (Australasian) waters, the more active, useful, and valuable will be the services of Her Majesty's ships, and such additional naval force as I can improvise."

Later in the year the Colonial Legislature was forced by public opinion to take the defences seriously in hand, and apparently, on the advice of Admiral Tryon and Major Cautley, R.E., who visited the Colony expressly for the purpose, new schemes. of defence were adopted for the four principal harbours. It was proposed to mount in each case an armament of 8-in. B.L., 6-in. B.L., 7-in. R.M.L., 64-pr. R.M.L., and 6-pr. Q.F. guns, and to provide in addition a submarine mining defence. Money was at once voted by the Legislature, the 7-in. and 64-pr. R.M.L. guns available in the Colony were mounted to meet the existing emergency, the additional armament required was ordered from England, and the necessary works for it shortly afterwards put in hand.

The works approved in 1885 have been carried out with certain modifications suggested by officers who have visited the Colony from time to time to inspect and report on its defences-Major-General Schaw in 1887, Sir Bevan Edwards in 1889, and Captain Moore, R.N., in 1891. Sir Bevan Edwards pronounced the defences of Wellington well planned, and ample to repel the attack of several cruisers. He recommended an addition to the works at Auckland, which, being a base for the Navy, should be made perfectly secure. Captain Moore stated that the existing defence works were well constructed, and with one exception no fault could be found with the sites selected, but that, considering the state of the personnel, in his opinion, the forts were too widely dispersed.

The Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks, dated the 23rd October, 1891, on Captain Moore's Report, stated that the Colony had liberally provided for the fixed defences of its ports, and that the armaments had been kept in a state of efficiency.

"But in the absence of an organization providing trained and disciplined men, the ports would be unable to derive full advantage from their powerful armaments."

In 1893 Colonel Fox, then Commandant, New Zealand Forces, made certain proposals for modifying the gun defence, advocating generally its greater concentra- tion.

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