168 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



such a distance can only be borne on large vessels, and the draught of these 

 would not permit of such a ship lying at anchor in 3^ fathoms of water 

 at low tide, as the risk of grounding at low water, which she would inevitably 

 do, would be too great, as any injury to her screw or rudder would almost 

 certainly prove fatal to her enterprise. It will be seen from the chart that 

 I have taken this necessity in view all through, and thus only protected the 

 channel, leaving the banks unguarded ; if, however, a light draught steamer 

 was to accompany the attacking fleet, she might be sent forward to try and 

 get within range of the city, and this she could only do by running the 

 gauntlet of the defences, or getting over the banks north and south of the 

 Koreho Channel ; to prevent this, a few torpedoes could be placed on the 

 banks, and with a few judiciously placed dummies, which being seen would 

 make her cautious how she essayed the attempt, would, I think, be 

 sufficient. One more point and I have finished with this part of my 

 paper. The electrical station which I propose at the North Head would be 

 two miles and 700 yards distant from the outer line of the eastern 

 defence, and 2J miles from that in Eangitoto Channel, and from this point 

 a gun battery would be well within range to prevent a small steamer 

 running in, and also to guard the electric wires from any attempt at drag- 

 ging and grappling them. It might be worthy of consideration as to the 

 advisability of laying a few electric-attached torpedoes, with chcuit-closing 

 attachments, by which any vessel coming in would, on contact, close the 

 circuit herself and thus discharge the torpedo dh-ectly under her ; two of 

 these ch'cuit-closers might be attached, floating just beneath the water at a 

 certain distance on either side and above the torpedo ; any ship then touching 

 either would be within striking distance of the charge, and in time of peace 

 the connections of the battery would be broken, or if only a weak current 

 was permitted to flow, the addition of a light, deflecting galvanometer would 

 give notice of a passing vessel during the night. 



But the laying these torpedoes as I have j)roposed is not by any means 

 all that is necessary. What we require first is a volunteer company, to be 

 especially trained to the work. It would not require many men, but they 

 must be of undoubted courage and intelligence ; and I think there would 

 be no difficulty in forming such a company of, say, thirty men, which might 

 be attached to the artillery or naval force, but preferably remaiu intact. 

 They would require to master the knowledge of the different torpedoes and 

 the means of firing them ; then, with the addition of a few Harvey, two or 

 three Whitehead, and some spar torpedoes, I think the port might be made 

 thoroughly impregnable. The use of the small steam launch, now so seldom 

 required, might be given to them occasionally, and they would thus make 

 themselves thoroughly acquainted with the jpositions they had to defend ; 



