xxxii. New Zealand Institute. 



Tempting, therefore, as is the proposal to rest the defence of Port 

 Nicholson upon a system of torpedoes protected by artillery fire on 

 the outer channel, this plan must be discarded in favour of one which 

 will more surely effect the required object. 



It will be seen, on striking an arc of 4,000 yards radius from Hals- 

 well Point as the centre, that the whole of the estuary within effective 

 range of Wellington — including the entrance channel and Evans's 

 Bay, but excepting a small portion on the southern side of the inner 

 harbour (which, however, is well seen from Kaiwarra) — can be com- 

 manded from the Halswell Point Peninsula. 



It is proposed therefore that batteries shall be placed so as to com- 

 mand the harbour, and the approach to it, at three points on that 

 peninsula, namely, Halswell Point, Gordon Point, and the point 

 about midway between the two ; and that a station whence these bat- 

 teries will be secured in the rear shall be established on Mount Craw- 

 ford. Communications should be formed between these several posi- 

 tions, and a road of access to the peninsula should be made along the 

 shore on the east side of Evans's Bay. 



The batteries in the above-named positions, together with two or 

 three guns on the high ground above Kaiwarra, will command every 

 part of the harbour where an enemy's ship might take up a position,, 

 with a view of hostile action against Wellington. Torpedo-vessels 

 would also aid in the defence. 



A field-force acting from the central position of the barracks and 

 the prison would be well placed for the support of the troops occupy- 

 ing the Avorks at Halswell Peninsula or at Kaiwarra, and would also 

 be in readiness to oppose any attempt at a landing in Island Bay. 



This plan, whilst it will, under present circumstances, fully provide 

 for the protection of Wellington, might in future years, if ever deemed 

 desirable, be supplemented by defences on the outer line at Dorset 

 Point, as also by batteries on Ward Island and Somes Island. 



POET LYTTELTON. 



The defences of Port Lyttelton and Port Chalmers are not only 

 of importance as regards the cities in their immediate neighbourhood, 

 but also the whole east coast of the Middle Island. 



The entrance to Port Lyttelton (the port of Canterbury) (see 

 Plate III.), upwards of 2,000 -yards wide — the depth being between 

 8 and 9 fathoms — is between two precipitous heads about 400 feet 

 high, and it would be out of the questioii to defend it by submarine 

 mines supported by batteries on the heads. Moreover, the shore on 

 the main land on either side of the harbour is so steep as not to pre- 

 sent sites suitable for works for the defence of the approach to 



