Esquimalt.

Manawatu Herald, 21 May 1898, Page 2

Esquimalt.

The fact that England is storing up enormous supplies of coal at Esquimalt is hardly worth cabling out, as it is now known that in every portion of the globe where England has a naval base, supplies of every description are being stored ready for any occasion. Esquimalt is situated on the south end of Vancouver island, which lays but a short way off the western coast of British Columbia. Victoria is the name of the capital, and the port and naval station is five miles to the west of it. The port has docks, and was strongly fortified in 1894 by Canada and Britain, and is garrisoned by British troops. The harbour is connected by rail with the coalfield of Nanaimo. Vancouver Island has an area of 15,937 square miles, being 278 miles long and from 50 to 65 miles broad. The shores are marked by rocky promontories, sheltered coves, fine harbours, and on the west deep fiord-like arms of the sea. The climate resembles that of of southern Britain, the warm Pacific Gulf Stream maintaining a mild temperature. The island abounds in minerals and the coalfields at Nanaimo are very large

and the coal is excellent. This naval base enables Britain to command the north Pacific as the distance from there to yaldivistock, the Russian Pacific Station, is only 4800 miles, and Yokohama is 500 miles nearer. It would have been more curious if the cablegram had noted the shortness of supply of coal at Esquimalt, instead of its accumulation.