Sir,
20
No. 26.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, June 25, 18×0. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Childers, the accompanying copy of despatches* from the Governor of Mauritius respecting the proposed formation of a company of rifle volunteers. A copy of the despatch No. 358 of the 6th November, 1879,† to which Sir G. F. Bowen also refers, was transmitted to you in a letter from this Department of the 10th January last. I am also to inclose a copy of a letter§ from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad with regard to Sir G. F. Bowen's proposal.
2. On reference to the Governor's despatch No. 431 of the 19th December, 1879,|| it will be seen that Sir G. F. Bowen proposes that the arms and accoutrements should be supplied by the Imperial Government on loan from the military stores of the garrison. Lord Kimberley thinks, however, that the Colony might, in the first place, be asked to bear this small expense, and he would be glad to be informed if there is a sufficient stock of arms and accoutrements in store in Mauritius to enable the necessary supply to be made to the Colonial Government, and if so, on what terms they could be furnished.
R. H. MEADE.
I am, &c. (Signed)
No. 27.
21
The material for the remaining sections is in course of preparation, and the Premier hopes to be able to forward it by the mail on the 9th proximo.
When the full particulars upon the various heads contained in the communication from the Horse Guards have been furnished, Ministers trust that the Commissioners will be in a position to appreciate the importance of Tasmania strategically as regards the commerce of Australasia and that of Great Britain in these scas, and that while the Government are making every effort consistent with the financial resources at their disposal to place the harbours of the Colony in a state of defence, it is impossible for them to execute and maintain such defensive works as would, with certainty, prevent the hostile occupation of Tasmanian ports to the most serious injury of the commerce of these Colonies and the mother country.
(Signed) W. R. GIBLIN.
His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, &c.
&c.
&c.
No. 28.
Administrator Sir F. Smith to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received June 26.) (Secret.)
Sir,
Government House, Hobart Town, May 12, 1880. WITH reference to your Circular despatch, Secret, of the 6th March, 1880,* transmitting copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, I have the honour to inclose a Memorandum received this day from the Premier.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
I b b k b
Reference -
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C.O.. 885 / 5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Administrator Sir F. Smith to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Received
(Secret.) Sir,
June 26.)
Government House, Hoburt Town. May 12, 1880. WITH reference to your Circular despatch of the 21st October, 1879,¶ transmitting y of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the state of colonial ports and naval stations, I have the honour to transmit the inclosed Memorandum from the Premier, with a printed copy of a Report** by the staff officer of volunteers, and also maps illustrative of that Report in a separate packet.
I have, &c. (Signed)
FRANCIS SMITH.
Inclosure in No. 27.
Memorandum.
Cabinet Office, Hobart Town, May 12, 1880. WITH reference to the Circular despatch, Secret, of the 21st October, 1879, trans- mitting copy of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the state of colonial ports and naval stations, the Premier has the honour to inform his Excellency the Administrator of the Government, that the Commandant of the local forces was requested by Governor Weld to furnish the information required.
Circumstances, over which Ministers have had no control, have delayed the pre- paration of the Report, and at the present time it is not possible to supply particulars under each head.
The Preinier, however, has the honour to transmit herewith a Report furnished by the staff officer, Captain Boddam, together with certain maps which bear directly upon the question of defences of the Colony, for the information of the Commissioners.
This Report has been prepared upon the basis of a communication from the Intelligence Department, Horse Guards, War Office, dated the 6th August, 1874, headed "Confidential, Colonial Defence Organization," and divided into sections, marked "A" to "Q."
Of these sections the information required by E, O, and P is now supplied corrected
up to the present date.
* Inclosures 4 and 5 in No. 126 of " Miscellaneous No. 39," and No. 6 of this Paper.
+ Inclosure 2 in No. 126 of “ Miscellaneous No. 39."
Inclosure 4 in No. 126 of " Miscellaneous No. 39."
No. 42 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
Not printed.
§ No. 21.
** Report and maps not printed.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FRANCIS SMITH.
Inclosure in No. 28.
Memorandum.
Cabinet Office, Hobart Town, May 12, 1880. WITH reference to Circular despatch, Secret, of the 6th March, 1880, transmitting copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce, specifying the nature of the information upon which the Royal Commissioners desire to be furnished with the views which his Excellency's Ministers may entertain in connection with the defence of this Colony, the Premier regrets their inability to furnish a reply by the outgoing mail.
The subjects enumerated in Captain Herbert Jekyll's letter to the Colonial Office involve the consideration of matters of very grave importance, and it has not been possible, as yet, to give them the attention they require.
Though, without doubt, much advantage would be derived by deputing some one to appear before the Commissioners to explain the true position of the Colony, and to convey an expression of the views of Ministers upon the questions under consideration, the Premier is of opinion that the difficulty of securing the services of a gentleman in all respects competent to undertake the duty, and the great attendant expense, must preclude the adoption of that course.
Upon the return of those members of the Cabinet now absent in the northern portion of the island, the despatch, and its inclosure, will receive the earnest attention of Ministers.
The Premier has, however, forwarded, with another Memorandum of this day's date, a Report, &c., upon the subject of existing and proposed defences, which may, in some measure, aid the Royal Commissione.s in the consideration of the questions remitted to them so far as this Colony is concerned.
W. R. GIBLIN.
His Excellency the Administrator of the Government,
&c.
&c.
&c.
(Signed)
• No. 156 of " Miscellaneous No. 39."
[508]
G