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are to be sent, I would strongly urge the sending of Sikhs in preference to any from Madras, the Colony having had some experience of the former and possessing, I understand, confidence in them.
9. I trust that Your Lordship will not fail to give due consideration to the statements contained in the 3rd of the enclosed Resolutions. They but repeat what Sir G. WILLIAM DES VEUX forcibly drew attention to in paragraph 16 of his Despatch, No. 334, of the 31st of October last, viz.:-that what is called “ Military Expenditure" by no means fairly represents the burthen which is really borne by the Colony on account of the garrison here.
10. The general feeling among the Un-official Members of the Legislature, and I think I may add among the community generally, is not that money should be begrudged for what is really necessary for an effective defence, but they have had some reason to complain that the authorized complement of guns for fortifications, on which during the last five or six years a sum of £16,000 has been expended, has not yet arrived.
11. I am glad to be able to say that the financial condition of the Colony still continues satisfactory as will be seen by the returns for last year, but I concur in what was stated by Mr. MACEWEN that we should not rely too implicitly on the Revenue, more particularly as regards one particular item on which I may have to separately address Your Lordship, always remaining in the same healthy condition as it has been of late.
I have the honour to be,
The Right Honourable
Lord KNUTSFORD, G.C.M.G.,
&C.
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble Servant,
F. FLEMING.
&c.,
&c.
(Enclosure to The Officer Administering the Government's Despatch, No. 82 of 1st April, 1890.)
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved,-
1.—That this Council, while recognising the justice and fairness of the demand made upon the Colony for an addition to the Military Contribution, desires to place upon record the fact that the vote authorising the additional payment has been passed by the unanimous voice of the Mem- bers, Official, and Un-Official, in the belief that the proposed increase in the strength of the troops stationed here is essentially necessary for the safety of the Colony and with the full assurance that the force mentioned in the appendix to the Secretary of State's despatch of the 20th January, 1890, 3,018 men of all ranks, of whom 2,525 are to be Europeans, will be present in the Colony within the year, and will be retained here,