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be able to state what are the prospects of getting volunteers to offer for drill under competent instructors.
(Signed) H. B. E. FRERE,
March 15, 1858.
Governor and High Commissioner.
Attached.
There are ten 6-ton guns at Simon's Town belonging to the military over which the Commodore has no control.
Will the Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces give instructions that two of these guns shall be transferred to Cape Town for the defence of Table Bay?
(Signed) J. GORDON SPRIGG, Colonial Governor.
King William's Town, March 16, 1878.
The Commanding Royal Engineer will be good enough to place himself in com- munication with the officials mentioned and in the sense indicated, and report for the information of the Lieutenant-General Commanding.
(Signed)
King William's Town, March 16, 1878.
Deputy Adjutant-General,
W. BELLAIRS, Deputy Adjutant-General.
A meeting was held this day at the Colonial Office; present, the Honourable Mr. Sprigg, Commodore Sullivan, R.N., Colonel Hassard, R.E., Colonel Dean Pitt, Lieutenant Baxter, D.O.R.E., W.D., also Lieutenant Seymour, C.R.A., W.D., to consider the Memorandum of his Excellency the Governor, and it was considered that it was not advisable to incur any expense for temporary defences of Table Bay, no guns being available for the works. It was not considered advisable to bring the guns from Simon's Town, as they were sent there for a special purpose, and will be shortly mounted.
Mr. Sprigg expressed a wish that the permanent defence of Table Bay should be considered by a Committee with a view to the Imperial Government being addressed upon the subject.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-General's orders will be awaited prior to any action being taken.
Sir,
April 3, 1878.
(Signed)
F. C. HASSARD, Colonel, Commanding Royal Engineer, South Africa.
Inclosure 4 in No. 189.
Chief Resident Engineer's Office, Cape Town, April 30, 1878.
corre-
WITH reference to my letter of the 16th instant, transmitting copy of a spondence respecting the provision of defences for Table Bay, I have the honour to forward herewith copies of the continuation of the correspondence in question, which has subse- quently taken place, and which also includes a report from myself to his Excellency the Governor, with plan, as called for by Minute dated 23rd April, 1878.
I have, &c.
(Signed) F. C. HASSARD, Colonel,
Commanding Royal Engineer, South Africa.
The Inspector-General of Fortifications,
War Office, London.
Inclosure 5 in No. 189.
Defence of Table Bay.
THE Committee, of which the Honourable Mr. Sprigg, Colonial Secretary, was Chairman, and members, Commodore Sullivan, C.B., R.N., A.D.C., Colonel Hassard, C.B., C.R.E., Colonel Dean Pitt, C.B., Lieutenant Baxter, D.O.R.E., Western District,
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