Anniversary Address. xxxiii. 



Lyttelton and of the harbour itself. Eipa Island, however — where 

 the quarantine establishment is at present placed — is a very favour- 

 able site for a work to fulfil these objects, and here I propose that 

 there should be constructed a battery by which you will observe the 

 whole harbour will be well commanded. This work will be rendered 

 perfectly secure against capture by assault, and will also be protected 

 against being silenced by a body of men which an enemy might have 

 succeeded in landing in the adjacent inlet, called Port Levy, and gain- 

 ing possession for a time of the heights overlooking the harbour on 

 the southern side. This last operation is one which, considering the 

 precipitous character of the country, I do not conceive to be likely, 

 but it is a contingency which, in the design of the work, should 

 be provided against. 



The guns on Ripa Island, thus completely secure against being 

 silenced or against capture, will absolutely deny the use of the 

 harbour to an enemy, and will prevent his taking up a position 

 therein with a view of effecting any hostile object. 



It would be desirable, however, to place some pieces of artillery 

 on the North Shore, so as to bring a cross-fire to bear on an attack- 

 ing vessel, and to command small bays on the southern side which 

 are not seen into from Ripa Island. Torpedo-vessels will co-operate 

 with the shore batteries, and will also prevent an enemy lying un- 

 molested in Port Levy, Pigeon Bay, or Akaroa Harbour. 



A field-force of artillery and infantry, acting from Lyttelton 

 upon the road from Lyttelton to Sumner, would both aid in the 

 defence of the harbour, and effectually prevent any attempt to land 

 at Sumner and advance therefrom to Christchurch. 



DUNEDIN AND POET CHALMEES. 



Dunedin, situated at the head of the estuary which forms the 

 harbour of Otago (see Plate IV.), at about twelve miles distance from 

 its entrance, is only divided from the sea by a low neck of land about 

 a mile wide, which on the sea-side is called the Ocean Beach. Mid- 

 way between the city and the entrance is Port Chalmers. During 

 the last few years the water between Port Chalmers and the city has 

 been considerably deepened, but Port Chalmers remains the anchor- 

 age for the largest ships. 



It has been determined to construct a training-wall at the entrance 

 to the port, opposite Taiaroa Head, and ultimately another but shorter 

 one, in continuation of that head, with a view of deepening the 

 channel. These harbour works will not, however, affect the plan of 

 defence. 



As observed by Major-General Scratchley, an enemy may either 



