19

A—No. 6

MEMORANDUM OF THE SEVERAL WORKS PROPOSED TO BE EXECUTED IN THE FORMATION OP A BATTERY WITH COVERING WORKS, AT OKAHU POINT, IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR. (Euclojum). 1. To excavate so much of the cliff as may be necessary to place the Guns on a suitable level (60 feet above the level of the sea), and to form the earthwork of the parapet of the Battery. 2. To excavate a ditch on the land front, and to throw up the earth to form a rampart to protect the Battery from attack by boat parties. 3. To erect a face with substantial rubble stone masonry, the parapet of the Battery and the cheeks of the embrasures. 4. To lay stone platforms with proper iron racers and pivots, for the traversing platforms of the Guns. 5. To construct a bridge across the ditch to the entrance of the works. (!. To make and liang complete entrance gates lined with plate-iron. 7- To construct a shot furnace of the approved pattern. S. To erect two buildings to accommodate each a Serjeant and twenty-four rank and file (50 men in all) as the ordinary Garrison with the necessary outbuildings. 9. To erect a defensible loop-holed Guard-house at the entrance from the land side. 10. To construct a Magazine to contain 200 rounds of ammunition per Gun. 11. To erect a shed for sponges and other small stores. 12. To sink and steen a well within the works. ]. To form the ground and approaches to the Battery. The probable expense of the works above specified will be as follows :— f s. d. Excavations for Battery and land front ... ... ... 1,650 0 0 Hubble Masonry revetments ... ... ... ... 690 0 0 Stone platforms with iron racers, pivots, &c. ... ... ... 325 0 0 Bridge across the ditch ... ... ... ... ... 22 0 0 Entrance Gates ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 0 0 Shot furnace ... ... ... ... ... ... 105 0 0 Barracks and outbuildings ... ... .. ... ... 900 0 0 Defensible Guard-House . ... ... ... ... 400 0 0 Magazine ... ... ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Shed for Sponges and small stores ... ... ... ... 35 0 0 Sinking a well ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 0 0 Forming the ground and approaches ... ... ... ... 5000 £4,625 0 0 (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers, 15th August, 1859. COPY Or A LETTER FROM COL. GOLD TO GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.B. Auckland, 25th August, 1859. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose for your Excellency's consideration, copy of a communication received Auguit 2S, less from the Commanding Royal Engineer, suggesting the construction of a Battery on the Bean Reef for the defence of the Harbour of Auckland, and beg to request that I may be favored with your Excellency's instructions thereon. I have, &c, (Signed) C. E. Gold, Colonel Commanding the Forces in New Zealand. His Excellency the Governor, &c, &c, &c. Royal Engineer's Office, Auckland, 23rd August, 1859. Sir,— I have the honor to request you will submit the following Report for the consideration of the (Enclosure) Colonel Commanding the Forces, and should he approve of the same, that you will move him to refer it for the final decision of the Colonial Government. In the several propositions I have made at different times for the construction of Coast defences for Auckland Harbour, I have been deterred from making any recommendation to place a Battery on the Bean Reef, in consequence of the expense which I contemplated would be incurred in its erection, though always appreciating and acknowledging the suitability of its position for a defensive work; but on a careful consideration of the subject, and entering into an Estimate of the probable cost of such a work, I find that it is not beyond the reach, in point of expense, of the Colony, and it will be for the