‘...the new barracks...are little more than 300 yards horizontally from the beach...and about above high-water mark, but in order to communicate with them from the centre of town, on horseback the distance is nearly a mile and a half and to walk it about three-quarters of a mile, and all the roads unavoidably pass over ground more than above the barracks, besides the footpaths are so steep and chalky that a number of accidents will unavoidably happen during the wet weather and more especially after floods. I am therefore induced to recommend the construction of a shaft, with a triple staircase... chief objective of which is the convenience and safety of troops...and may eventually be useful in sending reinforcements to troops or in affording them a secure retreat.’