28
3. On this part of the subject I shall address you again at a later date, but I do not doubt that the Colony will be prepared to make due provision for its fair share of the cost of the works, and other measures of defence, which are shown to be necessary.
4. In the meantime I request that you will report to me on the practicability of raising a local force, as suggested by the Committee, in aid of the regular troops.
1 have, &c. (Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.
29
Commissioners of the Admiralty have placed themselves in communication with the War Office and Treasury for the construction and armament of those works which they state to be necessary, and requests that so soon as an arrangement has been made he may be informed whether any communication should be made to the Canadian Government with the object stated in the letter from this Department of the 10th ultimo.*
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 66.
No. 63.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. Glover, G.C.M.G.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, April 30, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Report, as regards - Newfoundland, of a Committee consisting of Sir Alexander Milne, Sir Lintorn Simmons, and Sir Henry Barkly, appointed to consider the temporary measures desirable for the defence of the more important Colonial ports in the event of war.*
The Committee recommend, with a view to the defence of St. John's, that two 7-ton rifled guns should be sent out, to be mounted either at Frederick's Battery or at Chain Rock. The cost of these gun would be 2,000l., and of the necessary works, 1,2001.
I request that you will inform me, with the least possible delay, whether your Government will be prepared to undertake the expense of these works and armament, and whether it will be possible to raise a local force, consisting principally of artillery, for the purpose of manning the batteries.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 64.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Admiralty, April 30, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 17th instant,† inclosing three letters from the Colonial Defence Committee, and the Report which they have made on the temporary defences of the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, and Hong Kong, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, with regard to the suggestion that the Admiralty should temporarily lend the 7-inch and 64-pounder guns now at Hong Kong in reserve pending their replacement by the destined armament, that while my Lords think it very objectionable to appropriate the reserve guns and stores which have been sent out especially to meet casualties in Her Majesty's ships in time of war, they will withdraw this objection on the understanding that a supply to replace what is thus diverted is at
once sent out.
My Lords fear it will not be possible to furnish the gun-boats asked for, but they will communicate again with you respecting them.
I am, &c. (Signed)
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
ROBERT HALL.
No. 65.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
Downing Street, May 1, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo, relative to the defence of the naval station of Esquimalt and the town and harbour of Victoria.
2. As this matter is properly treated as an Imperial question with which this Department is not primarily concerned, Sir Michael Hick's Beach presumes that the Lords
$ No. 50.
* Miscellaneous, No. 35c.
+ No. 44.
(Secret and Confidential.) Šir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, May 1, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Colonel Stanley, a copy of a letter from this Department to the Admiralty,t respecting the temporary loan of certain guns now at Hong Kong, together with a copy the reply received from their Lordships' Department.‡
of
Sir Michael Hicks Beach is not aware whether the decision of their Lordships hus been communicated to the War Office in accordance with the request of the Colonial Office letter of the 17th ultimo, and he now presumes that Colonel Stanley will cause the necessary steps to be taken for mounting the guns lent by the Admiralty, and for providing with as little delay as possible a supply of guns to replace those borrowed.
am, &c.
Sir,
I
て
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
No. 67.
Treasury to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Treasury Chambers, May 2, 1878. THE Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them Mr. Malcolm's letter of the 20th ultimo,§ and the copy (inclosed) of the Report of a Committee appointed to consider the temporary measures required for the defence of the Colonies in the event of war.
My Lords understand that the estimated cost of the works, armaments, &c., recom- mended by the Committee (excluding Port Elizabeth and the additional proposals for Singapore) will be 213,4001, apportioned to the several Colonies as follows:-
Colony.
Cape Town
Works.
£ 17,600
Armaments.
Gun-boats.
£ 16,600
£
13,000
Mauritius
400
4,000
Ceylon Straits Settlements Hong Kong
21,600
28,800
17,000
18,600
30,000
19,200
26,000
87,200
87,200
99,000
£215,400
My Lords assume that this expenditure will be confined, as far as possible, to such precautions as are necessary chiefly for the protection of Imperial stores, dockyards, &c., in the event of immediate emergency; and that the works to be executed will be for that object; and as it is represented that the matter is urgent, and the interests immediately involved are largely, though not solely, Imperial, they are prepared to authorize the expenditure.
My Lords must, however, reserve to themselves the ultimate decision as to the apportionment of the expenditure between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, and they desire that it may be clearly understood that the Imperial Government is not in any way committed with regard to any pernament outlay.
the
My Lords presume that application will be made to the War Office for the supply of guns and submarine defences, in order that the necessary provision may be made in the estimates of that Department, and they request that that Department may be informed
• No. 36.
† No. 42.
‡ No. 64.
§ No. 45.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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