62
"
subject of the recent successful proof of the 64-pounder rifled gun constructed in Montreal.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.,
Sir,
&c.
&c.
&c.
Inclosure 8 in No. 73.
I have, &c. (Signed)
LORNE.
Ottawa, October 14, 1879. IN reply to a despatch of the 11th ultimo, inclosing War Office letter of the 9th September last, and other documents transmitted with your Minute of the 1st instant, I am directed by the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence to submit a Report from Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, dated Kingston, the 4th October, 1879, on the subject of the recent successful proof of the -pounder rifled gun made in Montreal.
I have, &c.
CHAS. E. PANET, Jun., Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence.
The Governor-General's Secretary,
'Sir,
Ottawa.
(Signed)
Inclosure 9 in No. 73.
School of Gunnery, Kingston, Ontario, October 4, 1879.
IN answer to your letter of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to inform you that the tube of the converted pounder gun experimented upon at Montreal, was left projecting at the muzzle. The projection was about 13 inches in length.
No muzzle velocities were taken on the occasion of the proof, no means being available.
The concluding query is not quite understood. Mr. Gilbert informed me that the pebble-powder used on the occasion was furnished by Sir W. Palliser. I presume it was of the service size and density, the latter being about y
The charge of 25lbs. was made up in a flannel cartridge-bag, fitting easily into the bore.
I have, &c. (Signed) D. T. IRWIN, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Inspector of Artillery.
The Adjutant-General of Militia, Ottawa.
No. 74,
Governor Weld, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.— (Received December 16.)
(Secret.) Sir,
Government House, Hobart Town, October 23, 1879.
I HAVE sent the papers and Reports to his Excellency, General Sir W. Jervois, as directed in your telegraphic cypher despatch of the 22nd August, 1879.* On receiving the required copies from Ministers, they addressed the inclosed memorandum to me.
2. As this memorandum plainly stated that "Ministers do not purpose recommending any departure from the proposals of his Excellency, Sir William Jervois and Colonel Scratchley, except as regards the organization of a permanent artillery force and a torpedo corps, unless unforeseen circumstances should render such departure desirable or impera- tive," and I had reason to fear that the plan of defence might be spoiled, and the expense already incurred sacrificed by the abandonment of part of it, I replied in my memorandum also inclosed of the 6th October, which afforded them an opportunity to retrace their steps or to explain, and in return they sent me a further memorandum, in which they state "that the departure from the proposals of his Excellency, Sir William Jervois and Colonel Scratchley, mentioned in the memorandum above referred to, was not intended as a final abandonment of that portion of the scheme, though as regards the action Ministers propose to take in connection with the defences during the coming year, they are not
⚫ No. 16.
63
prepared to apply to Parliament for the necessary funds to provide for the organization of those branches of the service."
S. I wish to ask your attention to the last paragraph of my memorandum of the 6th October, and to request that, should you see fit, you would submit it to any Commis. sion that may be sitting on the question of colonial defence.
4. It appears to me that the question is of much greater importance than would at first sight appear. It is not only a question of the more efficient organization of colonial defence forces, it is the question whether this group of Colonies shall organize their forces with unity in view as their ultimate aim-unity not only amongst themselves, but also as regards co-operation with the Home Government; or whether matters of defence shall run, as the Tariff and customs questions have run, into all manner of disunion and confusion, with results very prejudicial to the interests both of the mother-country and of the Colonies themselves.
No action of the mother-country can now remedy this evil, which has resulted, as I have long since pointed out, from letting things take their own way at a time when they might have been easily guided into a straight channel, to the end that the maximum of duties for other than mere revenue purposes might be alike in all these Colonies, and the course of trade with England unfettered by any protective restrictions.
5. Now the defence question, especially in coming years, when this group will count many millions of inhabitants, is as distinctly of Imperial interest as the fiscal question; and I think it the duty of those who in the Colonies represent the Crown to use their legitimate and constitutional influence in the direction of unity, I do not advocate any pressure being now put upon Colonies to engage them to assent to any given scheme, but I do think it would be wise were their attention to be drawn to this subject through the Report of
Commission that may be sitting on the question of defence, leaving the any Colonies to take the next initiative.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Inclosure I in No. 74.
FRED. A. WELD.
Memorandum by Ministers to his Excellency the Governor of Tasmania.
IN accordance with the desire of his Excellency the Governor, the Colonial Secretary has the honour to forward twelve copies of all printed Defence Papers, with Index.
With reference to the question of the defences, Ministers do not purpose recom. mending any departure from the proposals of his Excellency Sir William Jervois and Colonel Scratchley, except as regards the organization of a permanent artillery force and a torpedo corps, unless unforeseen circumstances should render such departure desirable or imperative.
Ministers would take this opportunity of expressing their conviction that the system of colonial defence can only be placed on a lasting foundation by the confederate action of every member of the Australasian group.
THOS. REIBEY.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hobart Town, October 1, 1879.
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 74.
Memorandum by his Excellency the Governor of Tasmania to Ministers.
I HAVE read the memorandum signed by the Colonial Secretary accompanying the papers on defence called for by the Secretary of State, which are to be sent to his Excellency General Sir W. D. Jervois for report.
2. To prevent misconception, I wish, before forwarding the papers to their destina- tion, to ask a more definite statement of the views of Ministers than that contained in paragraph 2. Do Ministers propose absolutely to abandon the proposal of a permanent force and of a torpedo corps, or only defer taking action in regard to them for the ensuing financial year? The memorandum, as it stands, certainly implies the former intention. In that case I must point out, for the consideration of Ministers, that in eliminating the permanent force-the heart of the defence organization-from the proposals no money
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