'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎491] (510/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
491
Supreme Government on the 3rd of March, 1860. Major
Haughton reported in the following terms of Lieutenant Hel-
lard and the Detachment under his command, in a letter to
the Supreme Government, dated the 14th of January, 1861.—
" I have repeatedly had occasion to notice the services of the
Naval Brigade, and I cannot allow the present occasion to
pass without again doing so. I have never been associated for
an equal period with any body of Europeans of whose conduct
I could speak in higher terms, or whose services have appeared
to me so eminently valuable. The Brigade has guarded the
Settlement night and day, afloat and on shore, and it has at
the same time furnished clerks, smiths, carpenters, bricklayers,
engineers, shipwrights, &c., &c., for the Settlement service.
This valuable aid could not have been obtained without the
zealous co-operation of Lieutenant Hellard and the officers
under him."
On the 19th of June, 1861, Major Haughton again reported
in the strongest terms of the able and zealous assistance
rendered to him by Lieutenant Hellard, and, on the 16th of
August, the Governor-General in Council recorded a Resolution
that, from the following September, that officer should receive a
special consolidated allowance of 600 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a month, "in
consideration of the strong testimony borne to his good
services."
On the 28th of May, 1860, the Indian Naval Brigade (with
the exception of No. 6, the Port Blair, Detachment,) the depot
of which had been stationed at Dumdum, was broken up, the
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dangers in the harbour have been buoyed, and a re-survey of it nearly completed.
The Middle Straits, which separate the Southern of the three principal islands
from the Central one, have been examined, and found to afford a safe passage
for steam vessels of moderate size, whereby a saving of one hundred miles to
vessels following the ordinary course in the voyage to and. from Calcutta may be
effected, but to render the passage available to' strangers a minute survey is still
required.
" Para. 15. The boats of the Settlement, from the ignorance of the convicts to
whose entire care they have been entrusted, had, at the close of the year 1859,
got into an almost useless condition. There were four lighters of from five to
thirty tons burden, nine built boats, all of which (three only in permanent charge
of the Naval Brigade excepted) were unserviceable. Also five canoes. By the
exertions of the officer commanding the Naval Brigade and his men, the whole of
these have been repaired.
" Para. 16. The iron steam gunboat No. 5, wrecked during the hurricane of
the 1st December, 1859, was floated over piece-meal by the Naval Brigade to
Eoss Island. After I had undertaken to rebuild her, when this task was
commenced I almost despaired. A close examination disclosed the fracture of
almost every plate and rib of her component fragments. The whole had to
be rebuilt, excepting only a small piece of the bow. By the exertions of the
Naval Brigade she was ready for launching at the close of the year, paint
for her bottom being alone wanting. This has since arrived, and she will
be launched next springtides. She has been justly named the 4 Perseverance,'
and I think thanks are due to Lieutenant Hellard and his men for having
rescued and rendered available at a very small comparative cost a valuable
vessel."