HARBOUR FORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 8

HARBOUR FORTS

SURVEY AT LYTTELTON GUN SITES SELECTED COASTAL DEFENCE SCHEME EXPERTS MAKE INSPECTION [BY TELEGIUFH —OWN CORRESPONDENT],I CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday A survey has been made this week of Lyttelton Harbour by military and naval authorities, a gunnery expert and an engineer, to determine the most suitable locations for fortifications to bo constructed under the Government's plans for coastal defence. Tho surveys made by tho party, both on land and water, indicate that the defences to be recommended will be on the north side of the harbour between Lyttelton and Godley Head and possibly extend to Taylor's Mistake, with supporting fortifications at Little Port Cooper, the first small bay inside the harbour on the south side, half a mile to the westward of Adderley Head. These sites will give the guns the greatest possible coverage of the sector from tho heads in all directions. Two-day Inspection

The inspection of the harbour was carried out in two sections—by land and from the sea—by a party which included Major-General J. E. Duigan, Chief of the General Staff; Colonel P. H. Bell, officer commanding the Southern District; Major A. J. Edney, on loan from the British Government as temporary Chief Engineer of the New Zealand Military Forces; Captain R. D. Oliver, R.N., a member of the Naval Board; and Mr. F. Langbein, district Public Works engineer. The party motored over that area of the peninsula between Lyttelton and Godley Head on Tuesday, and it was out for four and a-half hours yesterday in a launch, which travelled as far as Taylor's Mistake and, before returning to Lyttelton, made a short) call at Little Port Cooper. Importance ol Port Since the forts installed in 1885 fell into disuse, Lyttelton, long recognised as one of the most vital points for coastal defence—the importance to the South Island of keeping the wharves and tunnel intact being realised —has been without any defensive forces. That Lyttelton will be a centre under the coastal defence scheme drawn up by the Government, at the instigation of the Imperial authorities, is not open to any doubt, and it is expected that high-powered guns, manned by permanent artillerymen, supported by a battalion of 300 territorials, will be placed in the forts to be constructed.