184
No. 328.
K.C.M.G
Downing Street, September 7, 1878.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Lieutenant-Governor Sir H. Bulwer,
(Secret.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I referred your Secret despatch of the 22nd June* on the subject of the defence of Natal to the Colonial Defence Committee, consisting of Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, General Sir Lintorn Simmons (the Inspector- General of Fortifications), and Sir Henry Barkly, and I now transmit to you a copy of their Report.t
2. Although any immediate danger of war has happily been averted, it is very desirable that measures for the defence of Natal, which have already received such prompt con- sideration by your Government, should not be relaxed.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
185
4. The anchorage is approached by a channel about 1,200 yards in width (see plan letters AA and BB), which could be commanded easily by a small battery on the shore at A or B, or at both. The shoal marked B has only 1 and 24 fathoms on it, so that any vessel coming in must come within easy range of B.
5. The following is a statement of the force at my disposal for resisting a landing, should the proposed fort and earthworks at A and B deter vessels from trying to come into Rockley Bay for the purpose of shelling the town:---
Detachment, 2nd West India Regiment Scarborough Company Riße Volunteers Windward Company Rifle Volunteers
Armed Police
Total
•
::::
::::
Rank and File, including Sergeants.
Officers.
1
48
2
5#
4
66
5
39
207
12
219
No. 329.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Sir.
War Office, September 7, 1878. IN reference to your letter of the 16th ultimo, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the two 7-inch 64-ton guns ordered for the Mauritius, agreeably to the request contained in the Colonial Office letter of the 15th March last, have been duly dispatched, with their equipment.
I have, &a. (Signed)
No. 330.
W. H. GOODENOUGH.
Lieutenant-Governor Dundas, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.- (Received September 12.)
Barbados, August 16, 1878.
(No. 40.) Sir,
WITH reference to your secret despatch of 20th March, I have the honour to forward a communication from the Lieutenant-Governor of Tobago, embodying a scheme of defence for the town and port of Scarborough.
2. As the finances of the Colony are in a somewhat unsatisfactory state, I have not, in view of the present peaceful aspect of European affairs, thought myself justified in ordering this scheme to be carried out.
6. There are two serviceable 6-pounder brass guns which could be worked by the men of the 2nd West India Regiment (as long as the detachment remains here), and by the police, should the troops be withdrawn.
7. The following is a detail of the guns in position at Fort George, which is about 460 feet above the level of the sea; the platforms are in fair order, but only four of these (two long 18-pounder guns and two long 9-pounders) are in a position to command the anchorage:-
8 18-lb. iron guns, 8 feet long.
4 9-lb.
7
11
11
3 6-lb.
6
"
n
But all these guns could be moved so as to command the Baccolet road and the shore for some hundreds of yards to the south-east of the fort.
8. Amongst other things, Captain Wilkin, 2nd West India Regiment (commanding the troops), suggests the formation of a fire brigade, and the enrolment of able-bodied men for work in the shelter trenches, which, commencing about the mouth of Crooke's river, would have to be dug at the different points commanding the various landing places in Rockley Bay and the approaches to the town by the Baccolet road.
I have, &c. (Signed)
AUGUSTUS FRED. GORE, Lieutenant-Governor.
His Excellency the Governor-in-chief, Windward Islands.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
GEORGE DUNDAS.
No. 331.
(Secret.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 330.
Government House, Tobago, July 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's secret despatch of the 13th May last, received by me on the 1st ultimo, covering Sir Michael Hicks Beach's circular (secret) of the 20th March last.
2. With reference to the second paragraph of the Secretary of State's Circular, I have the honour to report as follows with regard to the defence of the town of Scarborough, which is the only port of this Colony which is likely to be visited by any hostile cruizer :--
S. I consulted the officer commanding Her Majesty's troops, the Colonial Civil Engineer (Superintendent of Works), and the Harbour Master in drawing up the following scheme of defence for the port and town of Scarborough.
• No. 256.
† No. 315,
‡ No. 291.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir A. P. Phayre, G.C.M.G.,}
K.C.S.I., C.B. (Secret.)
Šir,
Downing Street, September 16, 1878. WITH reference to your confidential despatch of the 17th July last,* I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office, stating that the two guns ordered for your Government have been duly dispatched, with their equipment.†
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
• No. 284.
+ No. 329a
[793]
21
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