PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O. 885
Reference :-
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
8
These Troops, with the exception of those in Tasmania, were to be paid for at the rate of 401.
per man.
These companies constituted the service esta- blishment of a regiment and a half, the other half
of the regiment being stationed in New Zealand.
But early in 1867 the half regiment in New Zealand boing no longer required there, and having to be otherwise disposed of, the course taken was to distribute it throughout the Colonies where the other half was already stationed.
The effect of this arrangement was to raise the numbers in Australia beyond the complement de- manded by the Colonists, and the whole expense of the wing thus removed to Australia has devolved upon the Imperial Exchequer,
I propose that a single regiment, supplemented
for the time being to the extent necessary to enable
it to supply the numbers required at the several
stations, should be substituted for the two regi- ments now quartered in Australia.
But I shall be glad if, with a view to this arrangement, your Lordship will consider whether it might not be practicable, especially in the case
of Tasmania, to reduce the allotment.
I procced, lastly, to consider the case of the Settlements on the West Coast of Africa.
I find that in a despatch addressed to the Colonial Office by Governor Kennedy, on the 27th August last, No. 115, he reports as follows:-"[ fully and entirely concur in that part of Colonel "Blackall's letter relating to the concentration of Troops, and reduction of Imperial Expenditure "which would accrue from the employment of two "Cruisers or Gun-boats between Gambia and
4
Lagos; without these means of communication "supervision, and transport when required, the
9
"further concentration of Troops cannot prudently "be effected."
I
propose, with
your Lordship's concurrence, to address myself to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in order that with a view to this con- centration of Troops, and consequent reduction
of expenditure, the assistance thus indicated may
if possible be afforded by one or more of Her Majesty's Cruisers stationed on the coast.
But even irrespectively of such co-operation and assistance on the part of the Admiralty, it appears
to me to deserve consideration whether it might not
be practicable to withdraw the wing of a regiment from the Coast, with a view to the abolition of one
of the West Indian Regiments to the extent of the Head-Quarters and five Companies, leaving the other three companies to reinforce the remaining three regiments.
The force allotted to the Coast consists of one regiment and a-half, and according to the latest
returns is thus distributed-
Sierra Leone.
Free Town Sherboro' ..
Bathurst
Rank and File.
320
26
Gambia.
Howk and Eve.
Cape St. Mary
132
18
Fort Bullen..
10
Gold Coast.
Cape Coast Castle..
232
Асста
Lagos
making a total of 844 Bauk and File.
37
69
1 should be glad to be favoured with your Lordship's opinion whether it will continue to be necessary that all these Stations should be occu- pied by a Military Force.
D