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179
No. 320.
Colonial Office to War Office and Admiralty.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, August 31, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th [23rd] instant,* together with the confidential pub- lications relating to torpedoes therein referred to for the use of the Government of South Australia.
[2. The Report on experiments against Her Majesty's ship "Oberon" is herewith returned, a copy of the publication having been received from the Admiralty. It has also been struck out of the list which accompanied your letter.+]
3. The Acting Governor has been informed that Sir Michael Hicks Beach relies on his assurance that the publications forwarded to him will be treated as confidential, and will be used only by the officers intrusted with the charge of the torpedo defences, and he has been requested to acknowledge the receipt of the documents.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
Sir,
No. 321.
The Agent-General for South Australia to Colonial Office.
Office of Agent-General for South Australia,
8, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, September 3, 1878. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have been instructed to obtain for the Government of South Australia the following works on torpedo service, viz :—
1. Admiralty Reports for 1875-6.
2. War Office Reports for 1875-6.
3. Notes on Defence by Submarine Mines, by Lieutenant-Colonel Stothers, War
Office.
4. Captain Fisher's Manual.
5. Copies of existing Rules and Regulations in force in the Torpedo Corps in
England.
The foregoing are, I am informed, procurable only from the Imperial Government, and I shall feel much indebted to you if through your good offices I can be supplied with a copy of each for transmission to the Colony. Any charges in connection with such supply would, I need scarcely add, be cheerfully defrayed by me.
No. 322.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ARTHUR BLYTH.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, September 4, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a Confidential despatch‡ from Governor Hennessy, suggesting that the batteries for Hong Kong should be constituted permanent works, and that that station should be fortified and garrisoned as the chief British strong- hold in the East.
2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach is of opinion that, if possible, the works now to be constructed should certainly be of a permanent character, and he will be glad to be informed whether with this view any alteration can be made in the designs, and how any such alterations would affect the estimated expenditure for defensive works in Hong Kong which has already been sanctioned.
* Nos. 306 and 307.
+ To War Office only.
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