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(Confidential.) Sir,
207
Inclosure 3 in No. 69.
Sir R. Biddulph to the Officer commanding Her Majesty's Ship “ Superb.”
November 28, 1881. THE Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, has informed me that your services will be available as a naval member of the local Committee, whose Report is required by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
The other members of the Committee will be the Commanding Royal Engineer, Colonel Dumaresq, and the Chief Secretary to Government, Colonel Warren, C.M.G., and as Famagusta is the only place on which a Report is required, I propose that the Committee should assemble there on such a date as may be convenient to you.
I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, the copy of a letter addressed to me by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, inclosing a copy of correspondence on this subject.
Similar copies have been supplied to the other members of the local Committee, who have been desired to place themselves in communication with you.
The Report, when completed, should be forwarded to me.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ROBT. BIDDULPH, Major-General,
No. 70.
High Commissioner.
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Sir,
Downing Street, February 24, 1882. WITH reference to my letter of the 9th February, inclosing a despatch from Sir R. Biddulph, and a Report by a Committee on the question of fortifying Famagusta, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from Sir R. Biddulph, inclosing a Report and planst prepared by the Government Engineer of Cyprus in reference to the improvement and enlarge- ment of Famagusta Harbour. I am also to inclose, for the information of the Commission, copies of a Report+ by an Italian engineer, Chevalier Bocci, on the sanitation of the Famagusta district.
I am to add that there are no island funds which could be applied to the execution of either scheme.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
My Lord,
Inclosure 1 in No. 70.
Sir R. Biddulph to the Earl of Kimberley.
Nicosia, December 29, 1881.
I HAVE the honour to transmit a Report by the Government Engineer on the Harbour of Fama- gusta, as promised in my despatch of the 26th October last.
Mr. Brown's Report is accompanied by plans† which illustrate his proposal for the construction of a harbour in three progressive stages. It will be observed that Plan No. 1 will provide suitable shelter within the inner harbour at a very moderate cost-less than 50,000%.; and I consider that this is well worthy of adoption, leaving the question of further extension for future consideration.
The want of harbours in Cyprus so totally prevents the formation of any commercial entrepôt, that I believe the expenditure of the money in question cannot fail to be most advantageous.
Inclosure 2 in No. 70.
'FAMAGUSTA HARBOUR.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. BIDDULPH.
Chief Secretary,
Nicosia, November 30, 1881.
A PRESS of other work which appeared to have more immediate claims on my attention has prevented me from replying earlier to your Minute of the 25th January last. I have now the honour to submit, for his Excellency's information, the following Report on Famagusta Harbour, with special reference to Mr. Ormiston's Report of the 10th January, 1880, together with some suggestions for its improvement, based on personal acquaintance with the site.
I may preface these remarks by stating that, during my first visit to Cyprus in the winter of 1878-79, I spent some time in examining Famagusta Harbour, and had the advantage of consulting on the spot Staff-Commander Millard, R.N., who was about completing his survey. At the same time, I made a series of borings to supplement those already taken by Commander Millard. On the 31st March,
+ Not printed.
* No. 69 and inclosures.
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120
Appendix No. 4.
CYPRUS.
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