22
No. 29.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. Robinson, G.C.M.G.
Downing Street, June 28, 1880.
(Secret.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches of the 9th March and 17th April,* marked Confidential, the first intimating that the views of your Ministers upon the question of defence are not, as yet, sufficiently matured to justify them in accepting the invitation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, that New Zealand should be represented before the Commission by a Delegate specially authorized by your Government for the purpose, and the second inclosing a Memorandum from your Ministers covering a Report by Colonel Scratchley, R.E., upon the defences of New Zealand.
I have read Colonel Scratchley's Report with interest, and have caused a copy of it, together with copies of your two despatches, and of the Memorandum of your Ministers, to be communicated to the Commission, and I have also communicated the Report to the Secretary of State for War.
I have to add that, as Colonel Scratchley's Report will frequently be referred to, I should be obliged by your furnishing me with twelve more copies of it.
1 have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 30.
Sir,
23
No. 32.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, June 30, 1880. WITH reference to your letter, dated the 10th May, 1880,* transmitting copies of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, inclosing the Report of the Local Committee appointed to consider the question of the enlistment of auxiliary forces to supplement the regular forces ordinarily maintained in the Colony, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that the Report has been laid before His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief, who thinks that the experiment of employing and arming Chinese should be adopted with great caution and in very small numbers, the officers being Europeans.
He is well aware that the coolies employed in the expedition to Pekin did excellent service, and considers the Chinese of Hong Kong might be used in that manner with great advantage in any number required, but his Royal Highness is of opinion that the armed force to be employed as supplementary to the regular troops should be composed, as far as possible, of trustworthy Indians, and that Malays could probably be obtained as gun lascars.
His Royal Highness concludes that the volunteer force alluded to by the Governor of Hong Kong consists entirely of Europeans.
I am to add that in these views the Secretary of State for War concurs.
I have, &c.
(Signed) RALPH THOMPSON.
Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, June 28, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, a copy of a despatch† from the Governor of New Zealand, with a Memorandum from his Ministers covering a Report by Colonel Scratchley, R.E., upon the defences of that Colony.
Copies of these papers have been communicated to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
I am, &c.
No. 31.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
(Secret.)
Sir,
No. 33.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Administrator Sir F. Smith.
Downing Street, July 2, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your two Secret despatches of the 12th May, the first inclosing a Memorandum from your Ministers containing their answer to the invitation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, that some one should be deputed by the Government of Tasmania to represent its views to the Commission, and the second inclosing information with respect to the defences of the Colony which has been furnished by your Government for submission to the Commission, and I have to inform you that these papers have, in accordance with the wish of your Ministers, been communicated to the Commission.
I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on Defence of British Possessions and Commerce
Abroad.
Downing Street, June 28, 1880.
WITH reference to previous correspondence, 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 Abroad, a copy of a despatch‡ from the Governor of New Zealand, intimating that the views of his Ministers are not, as yet, sufficiently matured to justify them in accepting the invitation of the Commission, that the Govern ment of New Zealand should be represented before the Commission by a Delegate specially authorized for that purpose.
I am also to transmit, to be laid before the Commission, a copy of a further despatch from the Governor, accompanied by a Memorandum from his Ministers covering a copy of a Report which Colonel Scratchley, R.E., has furnished to the Colonial Government upon the defences of New Zealand, and I am to say that a copy of this last despatch and of Colonel Scratchley's Report has been communicated to the War Office.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 34.
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Sir,
Downing Street, July 2, 1880. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copies of two despatches from the officer administering the Government of Tasmania, the first communicating the answer of the Colonial Government to the invitation that Tasmania should be represented by a Delegate before the Commission, and the second inclosing information respecting the defences of the Colony, which has been furnished by the Colonial Government for submission to the Commission.
&c. am,
I
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
• Nos. 2 and 18.
+ No. 18.
‡ No. 2.
• Not printed.
+ No. 203 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
Nos. 27 and 28.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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C.O. 885
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