76 A Colonial Navy. 



engines, boiler, and steering apparatus. A thickness of metal 

 to protect against penetration by rifle bullets would be all 

 that would be requisite generally for the upper works. Such 

 vessels as the above described can be built to run from 

 seventeen to eighteen knots and upwards per hour, and to 

 carry such armaments as those proposed. When in port, extra 

 protection can be given to the ships, in the prospect of actual 

 engagement, as may be required, but for ocean service speed 

 would be more essential than mere invulnerability. With a 

 fleet of ten such ships there would always be three or more 

 in harbour with their crews available for defensive purposes. 

 Although such vessels would be of little avail against an iron 

 clad, they would be most efficient against timber built ships. 



25. The tenders, or second-class ships, should be of 600 

 tons, and not less than 150 horse-power, built and fitted 

 similar to the first-class ships, but on a proportionate 

 scale in all other respects. These ships would be 

 available for distributing the mail service to the sister 

 colonies, but their head quarters would be in Hobson's Bay, 

 and when not on duty they would also form part of our 

 marine for defensive purposes. 



26. The first-class depot should be established in Hobson's 

 Bay, and consist of dockyards, slips, and arsenals, at which 

 the fleet could be repaired or wholly refitted. Such a depot 

 would in itself have a most beneficial effect as a market for 

 much of our produce, and in this respect reflect back upon 

 the community, for whose protection it was created, a pro- 

 fitable result. The provisioning of the fleet alone would 

 afford a considerable market for large quantities of our flour, 

 beef, mutton, potatoes, and other esculents, together with 

 fruits and wines, the produce of our orchards and vineyards. 



27. For permanent defence in the Bay, two iron-clad 

 floating batteries would be requisite, as before stated, with 

 suitable steam power, to enable them to act as an advance to 

 the other portions of the fleet. One of these batteries, if 

 stationed off Queenscliff, would be available for obstructing 

 the entrance, with greater effect than any fixed battery ; 

 because she could always keep within range by changing her 

 place as the necessity for doing so should arise. With such 

 defences, the occasion for shore batteries would be much 

 diminished, although not wholly done away with. 



28. In conducting such a service as the above, it is deemed 

 not only necessary but politic that the ocean steamers should 

 call at King George's Sound, and at the Cape of Good Hope, 



