HARBOR DEFENCE WORKS,

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2100, 16 November 1880, Page 3

HARBOR DEFENCE WORKS,

Few have any idea of the magnitude of the defence work.’ which ore in proGena o£ construction at the p'esont time at the entrains to Hobson’s Bay. The passage between the Heads is commanded by a battery at Queenecliff, the cost of which is estimated at £48,000 ; the south channel i swept by a fort, of wbich the breakwater alone has cost £9OOO ; while the west channel is to be protected by batteries at Swan Inland, tho expenditure upon which is not given. The fort in the south channel is to have the trifling sum of £200,000 epent upon it before it it completed. In addition to these fortification! tho plan of Sir William Jervois provides foi lines of torpedoes to bo laid down across ti e channels so as to render the harbor perfect Ij impregnable. It is satisfactory (says tht “ Leader ”) to learn that such of the work as has been done has been executed in tire best style, but it may not unreasonably be cn quired whether at a time like the present, when we are retrenching in every direction, wo can afford to carry out defence works upon such a lavish scale ? It is well to protect our selves, but if we eo on at this rate wo shall have nothing to "protect in the way o! revenue.