THE DEFENCES OF SYDNEY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 355, 13 June 1877, Page 2

THE DEFENCES OF SYDNEY.

(By Telegraph.) Sir W. Jervois, in a memo, to I: Governor of New South Wales, says It only in the improbable event of Ore Britain ceasing to hold the command the seas is there a likelihood of forcij aggression on the Australian Colonies, s obvious that any attack on New Sou! Wales can only be made on the sea bon' of the eastern boundary of tho Colon! and Sydney and Newcastle are the on! places likely to be attacked in any ci* and therefore those are the only plan where special local defence would her quired. With well-constructed, «fc armed, and properly-manned batteries l a few heavy guns at Middle Head, GeuK Head, and South Head, acting in condition with torpedoes laid across the e: trance to the harbour, their would bet necessity for inner defences. As regari the possibility of an enemy passing' night through the channel, the approach* may be so illuminated by the magnet" light as to prevent any vessel attempt to remove the obstruction between tt batteries without being seen tl'.erefro" He bears testimony to the ingenuity dii played in the design and good work p? formed in the construction of the batteN already provided for the defence of l' l harbour, and recommends the purchase' an ironclad for coast service. Torpc* stores for the defence of Port JacksoJ should at once be ordered from Engla" 4 Hostile vessels might throw shells in' 1 the town from outside the entrance to tt l harbour, as rilled guns can attain a ran? of upwards of five miles. Steps shoU' therefore be taken for the general defen"

of the coast. At Newcastle, a fort should be constructed on Signal Hill, at a height of about 105 feet above sea level, for three -<J-inch and font- 80-pouncler 31. L. H. gun - Tite force 3at present at the command of the Colony are 2810, but are in come respects defective in organisation. It is proposed that the number of gunners in the permanent artillery force should be increased from 240 to 300, or 100 per battery. To assist the permanent artillery in time of war, there should be a body of garrison militia artillery 200 strong. A torpedo corps should be under the command of the Superintendent of Telegrap3, and consist of about 100 officers and men—so employees in the telegraph service, and the remainder members of the Naval Brigade. Two battalions of militia infantry, each of 500 rank and file, to be increased by 1000 in time of war ; two batteries of militia field artillery, of four guns each, and a company of engineers of about 100. The mounted police would be available as cavalry scouts. The cost of the proposed defences (including the ironclad at L 150,000) would be L 325,000 ; the annual cost, L 87,760.