A.—No. 4.

8

PAPERS RELATIVE TO DEFENCE OP

The third mode cannot well be provided against without permanent garrisons for batteries on the sea coast. It is however, in my opinion, very unlikely that any such attack would be made, and if made, it ought to have very little effect; for shelling at such long ranges and at no visible object is not likely to do much damage, and, unless a landing can be effected, I do not see what object is to be gained by it. If, however, it is thought that a battery should be made for practice as well as for defence, I should recommend that the guns should be smooth-bores, whose range would not be sufficient to throw shells into the town. F. AY. Hutton.

No. 5. The Undee Secretary, Defence Department, to Captain Huttojt. (No. 400.) Sib,— Colonial Defence Office, Wellington, Bth June, 1871. I am instnicted by Mr. Gisborne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, covering reports on the means of defending the harbours of Wellington and Nelson against the attacks of small cruisers, and to thank you for the same. The Government would feel obliged if you would take an early opportunity of visiting and reporting in a similar manner upon the harbours of Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, before the approaching (Session of Parliament, in order that they may be in a position to place a complete series of suggestions as to the defence of all the principal harbours in the Colony in the hands of Members. I have, &c, Captain Hutton, Wellington. G. S. Cooper.

No. G. Captain Hutton to the Undeb Seceetary for Defence. Sic,— Colonial Museum, 24th July, 1871. In accordance with your instructions I have the honor herewith to enclose reports on the defence of the harbours of Lytteltou and Port Chalmers against the attack of small cruisers or privateers. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Defence, Wellington. F. W. Hutton.

Enclosure 1 in No. 6. Poet of Lyttelton. The town of Lyttelton lies in a hollow, surrounded by hills so high that they would effectually protect it from the fire of ships unless they took up a position just opposite to it, and it is therefore more easily protected than any other harbour in New Zealand. One gun placed on the western point forming the bay iii which the town is situated, and another on the eastern side, on the point next beyond the new breakwater below the road, would effectually command both sides of Quail Island and all parts of the port where ships could lie to bombard the town. They would also mutually support one another, and would both bring a raking fire to bear on any ship entering or leaving the port, while both would be easily accessible from the town. Christehurch in situated so far from the sea, and the coast is so shallow there, that it is quite protected by its distance. F. \V. Hutton.

Enclosure 2 in No. 6. Dunedix and Poet Chalmers. Dunedin is the most important town in New Zealand, and at the same time it is the most expensive to defend from the attack of an enemy, for it could be attacked either by way of Port Chalmers, or it could be shelled from the open sea, as it presents a large mark on the sides of the hills, at a distance of only three or four miles. The passage up the harbour could best be obstructed by guns on the half-way islands; but these islands are too far up to protect Port Chalmers, as the projecting eastern head of the small bay entirely shuts off the view of a large part of the anchorage ; and as Port Chalmers possesses a dock and the terminus of the railway, it is quite as necessary to protect as Dunedin itself. I should therefore place one gun on the north-west point of Koputia Bay, and the other on the north-west point of Portobello Bay. In these positions the guns can see one another, and both will command the channel as far as their range extends. I prefer the north-west point of Portobello Bay to Observation Spot as the position for the second gun, as I consider that Observation Spot is too high for a gun placed there to effectually support another placed so close to it as the one on the north-west point of Koputia Bay would be; and also because it would be quite possible, without a gun on the north-west point of Portobello Bay, for an enemy's ship to run past Port Chalmers, and eft'ect a landing behind the town. It may be thought that Portobello Bay is too far from Port Chalmers to be quickly supported ; but it must be remembered that the channel a ship would have to take i 3 a circuitous one, and passes close to the other gun ; and also that Portobello itself is a populous district, and could easily support sufficient Volunteer artillerymen to man the gun.