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Governor of the Colony, as was done in the case of the local Committees appointed to consider the defences of Hong Kong and of the Table Mountain Peninsula, the Governor being instructed to place on the Committee such military oflicers as may be recommended by the General Officer.
I am to add that, on learning that Mr. Childers concurs, and is prepared to give the necessary instructions to the Officer Commanding the Troops, Lord Kimberley will give the necessary instructions to the Governor for the appointment of the Committee.
No. 37.
I
am, &c.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
Governor Sir W. C. Robinson, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.— (Received July 12.) (Confidential.) My Lord,
Government House, Perth, May 29, 1880.
I WAS shown at the Colonial Office before leaving, a communication from the Peninsular and Oriental agent informing the Secretary of State of their intention to break up their coaling establishment at King George's Sound, and offering their plant, &c., to Government; and I was requested to report on this offer after my arrival. I do not remember whether the papers shown to me were marked Confidential or not; but as I find I shall have to refer to some Secret and Confidential despatches which are on record here, I have thought it better to give this despatch a similar heading.
2. The coaling plant of the Peninsular and Oriental Company at King George's Sound would be only useful to Her Majesty's Government in the event of the Admiralty deciding to maintain a coal depôt there for the use of Her Majesty's ships; but as it appears certain, from the Admiralty letter to the Colonial Office of the 10th May, 1878,* forwarded to my predecessor with the Secretary of State's Secret and Confidential despatch of the 3rd September, 1879,† that my Lords have no intention of keeping a supply of coals at King George's Sound, and recommend its being abandoned for the present as a coaling station, I am of opinion that the plant there, which consists of some wharf buildings, lighters, fire-engine, steam hoist, and small floating dock, would be of no service to Her Majesty's Government.
3. The Company possess about six acres of land on the shore which might be useful hereafter for defence purposes; but as it appears, from the second Report of the Colonial Defence Committee of April 1878 (marked Miscellaneous No. 35A) that there is no inten- tion to defend King George's Sound, seeing that defences there would be very costly and extremely embarrassing, as they would require a regular garrison, which would have to be supplied from Imperial troops, I scarcely think it worth while for the Imperial Govern- ment to purchase the six acres of land above referred to, inasmuch as they can, I presume, be resumed by Government in the unlikely event of their being required for defence purposes hereafter.
4. The Colonial Government may possibly purchase the agent's residence at Albany, and perhaps also the fire-engine, valued at about 1251., but these are matters for which we can treat directly with the agent on the spot.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
No. 38.
Sir,
No. 39.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, July 16, 1880.
your
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Childers to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 25th ultimo,* transmitting copies of despatches which have been received from the Governor of Mauritius relative to the supply of arms, ammunition, and accoutrements for the volunteer service of that Colony.
-
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that the local issue from the Ordnance Store Department at Mauritius of 150 Martini-Henry rifles, with ammunition (300 rounds per arm), could be arranged, and that these, together with the necessary accoutrements, which would be supplied from England, would cost the Colony, say, 6757., plus the usual Departmental expenses.
I am further to state that, as an alternative, the same number of Snider rifles (part worn) could be sent out from this country, for which half-price only would be charged, the cost being, with the necessary ammunition and accoutrements, about 3751., plus the usual Departmental expenses.
Mr. Childers would therefore be glad to hear further from Lord Kimberley as to which course it is desired to adopt in reference to the supply in question.
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL, Major-General.
No. 40.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Surveyor-General's Department, War Office,
July 19, 1880.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Childers to request that you will bring to the particular notice of the Earl of Kimberley that, whilst the Home Government are at all times glad to assist the Colonies as far as may be possible with officers for the instruction and organization of local forces, the Colonial authorities arc apt, in some cases, to overlook an important point, viz., that they act independently in selecting their ordnance, small arms, and warlike matériel, and obtain supplies of other than approved patterns of the Imperial service.
This independendent action on the part of the Colonies might lead to serious embarrassment in the event of war, as the local forces would not be in a position to render such effective assistance to the Imperial troops as might be expected if their armaments were uniform with those in use at home; and, as regards reserves, there would be a difficulty in providing, on an emergency, from home or elsewhere; the necessary supplies to keep up their equipments.
Sudden demands for matériel of patterns not in use might entail on the Colonies requiring them in an emergency great expense, which would be considerably reduced if they were able to draw on the large reserves kept by the Imperial Government.
This subject was specially mentioned in the letters from the Department referred to in the margin,t and Mr. Childers suggests, for Lord Kimberley's consideration, that the subject might, with advantage, be referred for the opinion of the Royal Commission on Defences for the Colonies.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL, Major-General.
Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, July 15, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th June, and to inclose the draft of a despatch which his Lordship proposes, with Mr. Secretary Childers' concurrence, to address to the Governor of Hong Kong with refer- ence to the recommendation of the local Committee that the employment there of Chinese for combatant purposes should be tried as an experiment; and I am to say that Lord Kimberley proposes to communicate a copy of the despatch to the Defence Commission.
I am, &c. (Signed) R. H. MEADE.
No. 86 of "Miscellaneous No. 35 x."
+ No. 19 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
‡ No. 32.
(Confidential.)
(Signed)
No. 41.
War Office to Colonial Office.‡
Sir,
War Office, July 23, 1880. WITH reference to your letter dated the 15th July, 1880, inclosing draft of a despatch which the Earl of Kimberley proposes to address to the Governor of Hong Kong
* No. 26.
+ Nos. 123 and 186 of " Miscellaneous No. 39." copy of this letter transmitted to the Royal Defence Commission on 2nd August, 1880, No. 46 in Series.
§ No. 38.