489
enclosed statement shews that of them, the most important
One of these is now awaiting
are four 10-inch B.L. Guns.
shipment, another will be ready for shipment in August and the remainder (2) will be issued during the course of
this year.
The delivery by the Contractors of the six quick
3-pounder Maxim-firing guns has been delayed owing to
a strike in the trade but they will all be delivered by
the end of this year.
2. Garrison. If the Colonial Contribution covered the
whole cost of the garrison, there would undoubtedly be just
good grounds for claiming the rebate for deficient
numbers which is generally granted under such circumstan-
ces. The contribution paid by Hong Kong bears such a
small proportion to the total cost, not only of the
garrison ultimately to be provided, but of that which is
actually present in the Colony, that no such claim arises
in this case.
In your dispatch of January last it is stated that
"in dealing with the great question of the defence of the Empire it is difficult to lay down any other broad
principle for dividing the cost of Colonial defence,
except that of the Mother Country undertaking the Sea
Defence of the Colonies by means of her Navy, and of the
Colonies, so far as their means allow, respectively
providing for their own land defence:
The Contribution of