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The Committee is of opinion that, in view of the relative positions of the various coal wharves in New Harbour, and with reference to the limited means now at command for their protection, it would be desirable, upon the declaration of war, to remove to a place of safety up the Singapore River the best of the coal now stored at the Admiralty Wharf at Pulo Brani.
The objections that have been locally raised to Pulo Brani as a coaling wharf would enable the authorities to remove this coal without causing public attention or alarm.
In regard to the large stores of coal in the yards of private companies, it would, in the opinion of the Committee, be premature just yet to take steps for the removal of any quantity, but later on it would be desirable to make arrangement with the companies to deport the larger proportion of their stock up the Singapore River also, or to some other place of safety, which can be readily done in lighters, leaving only such quantities near the sea as might with facility be destroyed, in the event of its being necessary to do so on an emergency.
C. A. S. DICKINS, Colonel Commanding,
(Signed)
Straits Settlements.
CHAS. F. HOTHAM.
J. F. A. McNAIR.
Singapore, May 4, 1878.
The Governor will feel obliged if the Defence Committee will consider and inform him whether they would advise the fitting out of one or two torpedo launches as a feature of the temporary defence measures which they have already recommended.
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
May 4, 1878.
The Defence Committee, Singapore.
(Signed)
The Defence Committee, after consideration, are clearly of opinion that it would be desirable to purchase at once a suitable launch to be fitted up for torpedo purposes.
(Signed)
C. A. S. DICKINS. CHAS. F. HOTHAM. J. F. A. MCNAIR.
May 4, 1878.
Colonial Secretary,
Will you ascertain if a suitable launch can be procured for this purpose at a reasonable rate? If so she should be fitted at the dock on Captain Hotham's drawings with as little delay as possible, and then placed in the hands of the Senior Naval Officer for completion.
May 6, 1878.
His Excellency the Governor,
(Signed)
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
I looked at a variety of steam launches on Saturday, in company with the Senior Naval Officer, Master Attendant, and First Lieutenant of the "Charybdis," and we found only one suitable launch.
She is a very fine fast boat, just completed by the New Harbour Dock Company, and would be a most serviceable boat for general purposes, being a seagoing launch. She could be bought, I believe, for 7,000 dollars. There is no other boat so suitable, but one that is being built and will be ready in six weeks or two months is admirably adapted for a torpedo launch.
May 5, 1878.
Inclosure 16 in No. 224,
(Signed)
J. DOUGLAS.
His Excellency the Governor,
May 14, 1878. IN pursuance of your verbal instructions on my minute of the 5th instant, I have tried the steam launch, in company with the First Lieutenant of Her Majesty's ship Charybdis," and the Master Attendant, and we found that though she is somewhat
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