PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference —
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,
40
No. 63.
Colonial Office to Secretary of Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and
Commerce Abroad.
Sir,
Downing Street, August 21, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 27th April, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copics of three despatchiest from the Governor of Western Australia respecting the offer of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company to sell its coaling plant at Albany, King George's Sound; and I am to acquaint you that the Company and the Admiralty have been informed of the decision of the Colonial Government not to purchase the property.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
41
fittings being sent out to Canada by a trading vessel, in which case Lord Kimberley will ascertain and communicate to their Lordships the wishes of the Government of Canada in the matter.
I ani, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
No. 67.
Sir,
No. 64.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
Downing Street, August 21, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with reference to the letter from this Department of the 27th April,t that a despatch has now been received from the Governor of Western Australia intimating that the Colonial Government does not desire to purchase the property of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company at Albany, King George's Sound.
Sir,
The Company has been informed of this decision.
I am, &c.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
No. 65.
Colonial Office to Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.
Downing Street, August 21, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 27th April,|| I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acquaint you, for the information of the Directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, that a despatch§ has now been received from the Governor of Western Australia stating that the Colonial Government does not desire to purchase the property of the Company at Albany, King George's Sound, and that the Company's agent there has been so informed.
am, &c.
(Confidential.) Sir,
I
(Signed)
No. 66.
R. H MEADE,
My Lord,
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company to Colonial Office.
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company,
Offices, 122, Leadenhall Street, London, August 25, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, stating, with reference to your despatch of the 27th April,† that a communication has been received from the Governor of Western Australia stating that the Colonial Government do not desire to purchase the property of the Company at King George's Sound; and, in reply, I am to express to you the thanks of the Directors for your communication.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. HILL, Assistant Secretary.
No. 68.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, August 26, 1880. I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 21st instant, requesting that a naval officer may be selected to serve on a local Committee which the Governor of the Straits Settlements will be directed to assemble for the purpose of considering the defence of Singapore.
2. I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that the Commander-in-chief on the China Station has been directed to select a naval officer for this duty.
Sir,
am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
No. 69.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, August 27, 1880. IN reply to your letter of the 21st instant,§ I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that the necessary instructions have been sent to the General Officer Commanding, with regard to the Committee to be appointed by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, to consider and report upon the question of the defence of Singapore.
I have, &c. (Signed) T. L. GALWEY,
Inspector-General of Fortifications.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
Downing Street, August 23, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential letter of the 19th instant, inquiring to whom the portable magazines and fittings for working guns on board merchant-vessels converted into armed cruizers, which the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty propose to present to the Government of Canada, should be consigned.
In reply, I am to suggest that, if their Lordships are intending to send a fresh vessel to the North American Station before long, it would probably be the best course that she should take out the magazines and fittings for delivery to the Government of Canada at Halifax.
In the event, however, of their Lordships not being in a position to accede to this suggestion, I am to inquire whether there would be any objection to the magazines and
• No. 211 of " Miscellaneous No. 39." Nos. 37, 54, and 55. No. 213 of " Miscellaneous No. 39."
§ No. 54.
No. 212 of " Miscellaneous No. 39."
¶ No. 59.
Sir,
No. 70.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, August 30, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, inclosing copy of a communication from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and inquiring whether the Secretary of State for War will undertake to procure and supply to the Royal Commission the information it requires.
* No. 65.
† No. 212 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
‡ No. 62.
§ No. 61.
|| No. 52.
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