COAST DEFENCES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12532, 18 April 1935, Page 5

COAST DEFENCES

FORTIFICATIONS ON AI.OTUTAFU ISLAND. MTNJSTF.R INSPECTS -SITE ‘.'Press Association). AUCKLAND, April 17. An important further development in the Government’s plans for rehrganiaing the coast defences of Auckland,; namely the erection of. fortifications on Motutapu Island, ' s under consideration. A visit was paid l to the island by the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. J. G. Oobbc, in company (with Majoy General Sir Wit liam Sinclair-Burgcss, general officer commanding the New Zealand .forces LiiOut.-Colonel Puttick,, quarter-mas ter general, and Major Parkinson commanding the Royal New Zealand) Atrtillery. The Minister inspected certain por tions of the .island’ and- conferred with Mrs Reid, ‘of Holme Bay, who holds a life interest in tho greater ■ par'y of the property. ilfhe Crown already owns certain land upon Motu ta.pu,/ but it ig understood that the scheme now being considered involves acquiring of other areas now privately owned. Mr Cobbc said ho. could not give any details of. the proposals which had not y§t been approy.ecll by the Cabinet. ‘‘They arc, of course, connected with, the Goyernnmntbs plans for modernising coast defences,” , be continued '‘and so far as the port and l City of Auckland aye concerned ’to provide for close defence and .counter ■' bombardment protection. i'The Cabinet decided some "time ago to bring the Dbrninipn/s defences into lino with what is heipy done in ports of other countries, notably Ausr. tralia and with the nvoney voted by Parliament for tl)e pui:ppse, . the plans of the Government are being pursued without any. of effort. The work PO\y going on at ' HohsonviJlc a ii; Neck and at jku't Dorset Wellington, is i all part of the scheme.”. It is (stated that, the Government i s . spending approximately PS,OOO on, hew fortifications apd' l htpldings at I Narrow Neck. .