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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. November 1889.
CONFIDENTIAL.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
16250.
Report of Local Committee and Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien, R. E.
ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND.
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Reports of the Local Committee of St. John's and of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien, R.E. The defenceless state of this port was pointed out in a paper laid before the Colonial Conference in 1887 by the Delegates from Newfoundland, and also in a Report drawn up by the Harbour-Master.
In consequence of these representations, the question was dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in a Memorandum of the 18th August, 1887, in which it was pointed out that the establishment of a fortified harbour at St. John's could not be regarded in any sense as an Imperial requirement. At the same time, the Committee considered that the harbour offered great natural advantages for defence and could easily be denied to an enemy, thus affording protection to the valuable fishing-fleet of the Colony, and, at the same time, providing a harbour of refuge at the nearest point of the American sea- board in the event of war.
Under these circumstances, the Colonial Defence Committee recommended that a certain number of guns with an equipment of ammunition as well as rifles and accoutrements should be presented to the Colony on certain specified conditions.
This recommendation was approved, and the proposals of the Imperial Government were forwarded to the Governor in a despatch of the 16th April, 1888. On the 8th July, 1889, a meeting was convened by the Governor to discuss the question of defence and a Local Committee was appointed, the Report of which is now under consideration. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien, R.E., had prepared a Report upon the defences of St. John's.
The Local Committee now report as follows:-
"The Committee feel deeply grateful to Her Majesty's Government for the offer of arms and munitions, contained in Lord Knutsford's despatch already quoted; while, for reasons suggested by a consideration of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien's Report on the defences of St. John's as well as by their own view of actual circumstances, they are disposed to recommend the following proposals:-
"i. That the Imperial authorities should supply, free of cost to the Colony except the charge for freight,--
"Two 9-in. R.M.L. guns mounted for high-angle fire and with a Watkin position-finder;
"Five 64-pr. R.M.L. guns mounted as recommended in Lieutenant- Colonel O'Brien's Report;
"Four machine-guns;
"500 Martini-Henry rifles with sets of accoutrements;
"The necessary munition for the above guns and rifles, and such submarine mines and stores as may be approved for the purpose of blocking the 'Narrows.' "2. That there be stationed here half-a-battery of Royal Artillery or
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