DEFENCE OF LYTTELTON HARBOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2415, 2 October 1886, Page 2

DEFENCE OF LYTTELTON HARBOR.

• One of- the representatives of the Christohurch Press recently paid a visit tpßipa Island (tho late quarantine sta- • ; tion), and has furnished the following brief report of tho progress of the defence operations there; which will doubtless be , read with interest,— . \JB Ripa bland ,is situated. within yards of the shore to the eastward of v *- Rhodes' Bay. The area is about two ' acres, and it is composed of blue stone and clay with light subsoil containing a: . large proportion of sand. The barracks and other necessary buildings that were used for quarantine purposes are partly v takeu down "and removed to Quail Island, and in their stead foundations for big guns aro being proposed to mount one Binand'two Gin guns, andthreeNordenfoldts, Forthia purpose the island has been levelled, which necessitated a great amount of excavation Two gun pits are already completed, ,-i Those are'of composite construction, iron % rails forming the frameword f which is immensely strong. Between and around the frame is filled in with concrete, beautifully finished. The pit for the Bin. gun is 40ft in diameter, and is a complete circle; the depth is 14ft. The other pit, for the Gin gun is not quite so large, but is the same design as that for the Bin gun. These pits have communication with each other by tunnels, as will also the other two when completed. There are. also massive chambers for holding powder and shells convenient to the guns, and. will be 14ft under the parapet. Tho guns will be automatically worked, and as' Boon as a shot is tired it instantly drops under/ \ cover for reloading. On the seaward side jjm of tho Island , a breastwork is in l^ 1 , course of construction, it is built on a rocky foundation to the height of the island, about 45ft, and iB coinpoaed of blue Btone of a splendid quality, which is got oil tho spot. These broastworkß are Bft at the base, tapering'to sft at the top, and are built on an 'anglo of about 20deg towards the soil, and appear to be very substantial. All the works are being f) done by the unemployed of whom there are about sixty, and are reported by Mr Watßon, the officer in charge, to be good working men. When these fortifications are completed,- Lytteltoii should be a bio to resist any attack by sea, as the position , enables guns to be worked about twothirds of a circle, t.e,, from a lino with Lyttleton round by the sea to near Rhodes' Bay. In "fact, it is the most formidable position for defenco purposes that there is in tho harbor. Mr Wilson, to whom we are indebted for his courtesy, thinks it will take Bomo twelve or eighteen months more to complete tho works according to tho plans, but, if. urgently required, they could be pot roady iu six 'Jw months. It should be noted that all tho stone and sand required is procured on the island, which will naturally curtail the cost of tho works.