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I now beg to inclose a copy of a letter from the Department of the Minister of Militia, covering a Memorandum from the Adjutant-General on which the above telegram was founded.
I have, &c. (Signed) DUFFERIN.
Inclosure in No. 229.
Sir,
Ottawa, June 21, 1878.
I AM directed by the Acting Minister of Militia and Defence (Honourable R. W. Scott) to forward to you the inclosed Memorandum from the Adjutant-General of Militia, respecting a reserve of powder, cartridges, shot, shell, &c., required at Victoria, British Columbia, and to request that you will obtain information by cable from England as to the ability of the naval authorities at Esquimalt to supply the same from time to time on repayment.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
C. EUG. PANET, Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence.
The Governor-General's Secretary, Ottawa.
·
Inclosure 2 in No. 229.
Memorandum.
AS works are being constructed by the Dominion Government and guns mounted at McAulay's Point, Beacon Hill, and Fisguard Island, near Victoria, British Columbia, it will be necessary to create a reserve of powder, cartridges, shot, shell, &c., at Victoria, for issue when required. In fact, this service is urgent, as the ability of the Imperial naval authorities at Esquimalt to supply powder, &c., on repayment, from the small reserves maintained at that station is doubtful, and because the Dominion Government has no magazine available for the storage of powder at Victoria.
It is therefore suggested that information be obtained by cable from England as to the ability of the naval authorities to supply ammunition required from time to time on repay- ment, and if the needed supply from that source be found impossible, that steps be taken to erect a magazine and procure a reserve of, say, 100 rounds of ammunition per gun for each of the nine guns ordered to be mounted.
If this action is not taken it will not be possible to carry out gun practice at Victoria, or to utilize the guns for defensive purposes.
The General Officer in command, who is temporarily absent from Ottawa, concurs in this suggestion.
Department of Militia and Defence,
(Signed)
W. POWELL, Colonel,
Adjutant-General of Militia.
June 21, 1878,
No. 230.
Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., to the Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
7, Westminster Chambers, London, S. W., July 10, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have received a despatch from my Government stating that, in addition to the armament referred to in Mr. Meade's Secret and Confidential letter to me of the 27th May,* they wish to obtain two more converted 64-pounder guns, if they can be had on reasonable terms. I am therefore to request that you will ascertain from the War Office, and inform me, what would be the cost of two such guns, and how soon they could be supplied.
I have, &c. (Signed)
JULIUS VOGEL.
4
* No. 133.
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