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(Confidential.) Sir,
24
No. 50.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, April 26, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 10th instant,* forwarding copy of a Report from the Colonial Defence Committee relative to the defences of the naval station of Esquimalt and the town and harbour of Victoria, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that my Lords are of opinion it is extremely desirable that the harbour of Esquimalt should be provided with shore defences to guard it from attacks from the sea.
The general duties of the Pacific Staticn would probably make it often impossible to keep Her Majesty's ships in port, and land batteries are therefore indispensable.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
No. 51.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Marquis of Normanby.
(Secret and Confi lential.) My Lord,
Downing Street, April 26, 1878.
IN my telegram of the 25th instant I inquired whether the Government of New Zealand would be prepared to undertake the cost of the works and armaments recom- mended for her defence in the event of war by a Committee appointed to consider the best measures to be taken for the protection of the Colonies in that contingency.
I have now the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Report of that Committee as regards the Australian Colonies, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH,
No. 52.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, April 26, 1878.
I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee as regards the Australasian Colonies.‡
I am also to transmit to you the substance of a telegram§ which Sir Michael Hicks Beach has addressed to the Governor of New Zealand, inquiring whether the Colony is prepared to undertake the cost of the works and armaments recommended for her defence.
The 22 guns recommended for New Zealand form part of the 166 guns mentioned as likely to be required for the Colonies in the letter from this office of the 20th instant|| regarding the Cape and Eastern Colonies.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 53.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Governors of the Australian Colonies, and the Governor of Tasmania.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, April 26, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your information, the accompanying copy of a Report, as regards the Australasian Colonies, of a Committee appointed to consider the best measures to be taken for the temporary defence of the Colonies in the event of war.
* No. 36.
† No. 49.
§ No. 51.
Miscellaneous, No. 35 a. I No. 46.
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