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The Committee of Defence recommends a military contingent of 120 Royal Artillery, 20 Royal Engineers, and 100 infantry, so that there will be required accommodation at Curepipe for half Royal 130 men. This could be pro- Artillery (60 men), half Royal Engineers (10 men), and 60 infantry
vided at a cost of about 15,000l. The hospital accommodation would also have to be increased from 16 to 30 beds, at a cost of 6,0001., making a total for increased accommodation, and accessory buildings, of 21,000%. This amount would be more than covered by the sale of the properties enumerated in Appendix (B), valued at 32,500, and leave a surplus of 11,500l. towards the purchase of gun-boats, or formation of signal stations, &c.
The Committee having considered the four projects for remodelling Fort George, and giving it an armament of four 10-in. muzzle-loading rifled guns, two 7-in. ditto, and four 7-in. breech-loading guns, and which four projects are as follows
No. 1. Establishing covered communications to magazines, and placing traverses between each gun on north-east and south faces-approximate cost, 22,0007.;
No. 2. Placing traverses between each gun on north-east and south faces-approximate cost, 15,000Z.;
No. 3. Placing traverses between each gun on north and south faces-approximate cost, 10,000Z.; No. 4. Mounting the above armament en barbette-approximate cost, 10,000%;
the Committee would remark that at present the armament of Fort George cannot be considered satisfactory, and recommend Project No. 1 for execution.
Reorganization of Police.
The Committee having taken note that the police force numbers about 700 men, and costs 40,0007. a-year, consider that the Colonial Government might be requested to so organize it that in case of invasion, riot, or revolt, 300 of these men ought to be available for defence. If this cannot be the case, then 300 more infantry, with regular establishment, costing 15,000l., and extra barrack accommodation, 30,000%, would be required, in addition to the sum referred to in Appendix (A).
The Committee conclude their Report with stating their opinion that it would be most desirable to the Royal Navy, and to the Colony, to establish telegraphic communication with Europe, either from Galle (via Diego Garcia), distance 2,000 miles, or from Zanzibar (viâ Seychelles and Bourbon), but they would prefer the telegraph being from Galle, so as not to pass through the French Isle of Bourbon. For this telegraph, via Galle, it appears a guarantee of 25,0007. a-year is required, of which the Colonial Government have already offered 10,000l. a-year, so that 15,000l. a-year would have to be supplied by the Imperial Government.
(Signed)
C. G. GORDON, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E., and Brevet-
Colonel, President.
E. J. HOPWOOD, Brigade-Surgeon;
C. G. ROBINSON, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.A.;
J. N. N. BUCHANAN, Major, Brigade-Major;
J. K. JOHNSON, Assistant Commissary-General, Senior
Commissariat Officer, Members.
Recapitulation of Cost of Suggestions of Committee of Defence, dated August 1, 1881.
80
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
ACTUAL OUTLAY.
£
£
£
£
Purchase of four gun-boats, with 10-in. M.L.R. guns.. Formation of six signal stations
60,000
60,000
60,000
60,000
600
600
600
600
Fitting-up steam-tugs
•
•
500
500
500
500
Barrack and hospital accommodation for troops at
Curepipe..
21,000
21,000
21,000
21,000
Armament of Fort George
16,800
16,800
16,800
16,800
Remodelling Fort George-
Project No. 1
22,000
Project No. 2
Project No. 3
*
15,000
10,000
Project No. 4
10,000
Total actual outlay..
120,900
113,900
108,900
108,900
Deduct sale of commissariat buildings
£10,000
وو
وو
Royal Artillery barracks and
mess
7,500
وو
Port Louis Hospital
15,000
32,500
32,500
32,500
32,500
Leaving, to be met by Imperial Government
88,400
81,400
76,400
76,400
Deduct, if Port Louis and Mahébourg barracks were
sold, 20,000l. and 4,000%.
24,000
24,000
24,000
24,000
To be defrayed by Imperial Government
64,400
57,400
52,400
52,400
Add, if additional force of 300 infantry is added consequent to non-organization of police force, then, for their barrack accommodation
30,000
30,000
30,000
30,000
Outlay to be met by Imperial Government ..
94,400
87,400
82,400
82,400
(Signed)
C. G. GORDON, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E., and Brevet-
Colonel, President.
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