13+
tion Company have decided to dispense with their coaling-station at Albany, King George's Sound, and that it has occurred to them that the Imperial Government, or one of the Colonial Governments, might desire to secure the continuance of the establishment.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach desires me to convey to you an expression of his thanks for this offer, which will at once be taken into consideration, and a further communication will be made to you on the subject in due course.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
185
Abroad] [Secretary of State for War] [Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty |, a copy in print of a despatch from the Governor of Newfoundland, inclosing a Report by Lieutenant Morgan, R.M.L.I., on the defence of the Colony.
I am, &c.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE,
No. 145.
No. 142.
The Right Hon, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Governor of South Australia. (Telegraphic.).
Downing Street, February 25, 1880. THE Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad' hopes to be in a position, by June next to consider the questions of ports, armaments, naval defence, the raising and maintenance of local forces, and with whom the responsi- bility of command-military and naval—should rest, and the Commissioners would be glad if delegates could be deputed to represent to them the views of the most important Colonial Governments. The evidence taken would be for the most part confidential. Please telegraph this on to the Governors of all the Australian Colonies except Western Australia, and to Tasmania and New Zealand.
Sir,
No. 143.
G. F. Smith, Esq., to Colonial Office.
15, Golden Square, February 27, 1880. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant,* declining the proposal in reference to telegraphic communication with Bermuda contained in my letter to the Colonial Office of the 6th ultimo.+
Such decision renders it unnecessary for the proposed Company to vary its intended direct route from Flores to North America.
Notwithstanding the unremunerative character of the traffic to Bermuda the gentle- men organizing the Company would adopt a point at or near Halifax as one American terminus, and construct a line thence to Bermuda if Her Majesty's Government should be willing to contribute towards such an object, and in consideration of the maintenance by the Company would agree to give facilities for the extension of such line to the West Indica.
The distance, including requisite slack, may be assumed at about 850 miles, and the Company would construct and lay a single line to Bermuda, and maintain it as part of their system upon the following conditions:---
1. That on the completion of the line to Bermuda a subsidy of 10,0001. be paid and be continued for twenty years, provided the line be kept in working order.
2. That the Company have permission to extend their line to any of the West Indian Islands, and to duplicate their lines,
It is important for the commercial activity of the West Indian Islands, as well as for their defence, that more direct telegraphic communication should be established between them and England, and I shall be glad if I might be favoured with an appointment at which I could explain more fully the features of the case, as time presses.
GEO. F. SMITH.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
No. 144.
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. H. Glover, G.C.M.G. (Secret.)
Downing Street, February 28, 1880.
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Secret despatch of the 26th January last,* inclosing a Report by Lieutenant Morgan, R.M.L.I., on the defence of Newfoundland.
h
2. I concur with you in the opinion that the Report, which appears to me to be a very clear and able one, reflects much credit on Lieutenant Morgan, and I have had much pleasure in transmitting copies of it for the information of the Secretary of State for War and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as well as causing it to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
3. I inclose six printed copies of the despatch and Report for the use of your Government.
Sir,
?
I have, &c.
(Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 146.
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, February 28, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 19th instant,+ I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a further letter from the Foreign Office inclosing a copy of a despatch respecting the contemplated dispatch to the Pacific of certain vessels of the Russian volunteer fleet, and the mission of M. Skalkofsky, to investigate the condition of Russian trade with China and Japan.
Sir,
No. 147.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
Lieutenant-Colonel Hope, V.C., to Colonial Office.
R. H. MEADE.
Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, February 28, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith two copies of a letter§ which I have recently addressed to the Secretary of State for War, containing an offer to make guns for Her Majesty's Navy, combining a saving of 80 per cent. in weight with a saving of 60 per cent. money, and with a great superiority in all other respects to the "Woolwich guns. It occurs to me that this offer would be of interest to the Royal Commission now sitting on the question of Colonial Defence.
in
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. HOPE.
No. 148.
*Sir,
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, War Office, and Admiralty.
Downing Street, February 28, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the [Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce
No. 181.
+ Inclosure 2 in No. 112.
Sir,
The Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
13, Delahay Street, March 2, 1880. WITH reference to my letter of the 20th February] relative to obtaining witnesses from the larger self-governing Colonies, to give evidence before tlie Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, I am directed by the Commission
§ Not printed.
No. 135.
• No. 117.
+ No. 184.
No. 136.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mmimmimC.O. 885
4
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
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