45

D.—1.

that is now required to finish the works at Takapuna Head is the mounting of the guns, the completion of the ditch, and the erection of the barracks. Fort Cautley. —This battery is all but complete, the only works remaining unfinished being the floors of the wide passages, the completion of the gun-pit, racer, and floor, and some fittings and earthwork. An electric light has been erected on the North Head, the machinery being placed underground, and protected with masonry and earthwork. Barracks for the Permanent Artillery, with officers' quarters, have been built on the landward side of the North Head. Bastion. —This fort is built to the same design as the one at Takapuna Head, and the works are in almost exactly the same position. Very little is required to complete them. Submarine Depot. —A depot for the torpedo and submarine mining service has been built at the North Shore. It consists of office, workshops, three fitting shops, Whitehead torpedo store, and general mine store, with fencing, tramway, turntables, jetty, and other necessary appliances and fittings. Wellington. Point Halswell Battery. —This is the first battery erected during the war-scare in April, 1885. Nothing has been done to it during the past year. Nearly the same remark applies to the other works on the Hataitai Peninsula, for, beyond maintaining roads and a few additions to the barracks, no works have been in progress. The office and store erected at Port Janet have been removed to Kau Bay. Point Gordon Battery. —This battery is built on much the same design as the Auckland ones above described, but it has heavier guns, and more of them. It also is provided with electric searchlights, the machinery for which is underground. The guns are mounted, and some of them have been fired several times. Practically, the whole battery is finished except a few minor works and details, which may be done at leisure. A jetty has been built in Te Mahanga Bay, near Point Gordon, and close by it are erected a number of buildings for the torpedo and submarine mine service. The most important of them are a slip and shed for the torpedo-boat, and a large store and yard for submarine mines. Men's quarters and sheds for storage of material have been provided, and a gun-cotton pit excavated. Rate Point Battery. —Most of the preliminary work for this battery has been completed, but further action is deferred pending a decision as to the plans. Nghauranga Battery. —At this battery the gun-pits, covered ways, barracks, magazine, and stores are complete, and the guns mounted. The only works remaining unfinished are the southern ditch, look-out station, and a few of the less important details. Kaiwarra Battery. —This battery, erected in 1885, has received no additions during the year, except a four-roomed cottage built for the magazine-keeper. Submarine Depot. —A depot for the torpedo and submarine mining service, similar to the one at Auckland, has been provided in Wellington. The principal works done during last year were a shed for Whitehead torpedoes and a cable-tank. The floor of the torpedo-shed and fitting-shops were also asphalted, and the tramway extended. Lyttelton. Northern Batteries. —All the three batteries on the northern side of Lyttelton Harbour are nearly complete, the only work of importance now unfinished being the magazine at Upper Battery. Bipa Island,. —The Quarantine Station has been removed from Eipa to Quail Island, to make room for the batteries. The pits for the large guns, together with the connecting-galleries, have been excavated, and the concrete-work is complete. Short lengths of the other galleries connecting the central magazine have also been built, and the excavation for the magazine itself is in progress. The retaining-wall at the north-east end of the island is finished, also about 50ft. of the one at the west side. Dunedin. St. Glair and Lawyer's Head Batteries. —Beyond minor additions, nothing has been done during the past year to the works carried out on these batteries in 1885; but the Lawyer's Head Battery is now being supplemented by an Bin. gun. The gun-pit and magazine were begun in December, but, beyond providing plant and materials, nothing has yet been done. A stone quarry has been opened and a tramway made to it, to facilitate the work. Ocean Beach Battery. —This battery is situated on the sandhills at the Ocean Beach, about midway between St. Clair and Lawyer's Head. It is much the same design as the one at Takapuna Head previously referred to. The gun-pits and main galleries are complete, and the open galleries and retaining-wall almost complete. The foundations of the barracks are laid, and those of the magazine are up to floor-level. Taiaroa Heads. —A jetty has been built on the harbour side of the heads, and a tramway laid therefrom to the batteries. A magazine observing station and gun-pit for a 7in. gun have been built and are practically finished, the gun being mounted. Excavations are made and foundations laid for gun-pit, galleries, and magazine of a 6in. gun, and 500ft. of the parapet at the rear of the forts have been erected. An observing station in connection with the Channel Battery, built in 1885, has been commenced, Submarine Depot. —A depot for the torpedo and submarine mine service, similar to those in Auckland and Wellington, is to be provided at Deborah Bay, near Port Chalmers. The site was