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No. 86,

No. 82.

Governor Sir J. Glover, &.C.M.G., to the Right Honourable Bir M. E. Micks Beach, Bari.—

(Confidential.)

(Received May 9.)

Sir,

(Telegraphic.)

considered?

PROTECTION of the telegraph cable in the event of war.

Has the question been

No. 83.

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G. C.B., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, May 10, 1878. I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to beg to be informed of the description and numbers of local forces at St. John, New Brunswick, Sydney, Cape Breton Pictou; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; also, whether there are any guns at those places in a serviceable condition, and, if so, in what numbers, and of what calibres.

I have, &c.

ALEX. MILNE, President.

(Signed)

No. 84.

Admiralty to Colonial Office,

Admiralty, May 10, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 26th ultimo,* marked Secret and Confidential, containing the Second Report of the Colonial Defence Committee on the defences of the Australian Colonies, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and requesting more particularly to be informed whether my Lords desire that a coal depot should be maintained at King George's Sound for the use of Her Majesty's ships of war, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that my Lords neither have, nor propose to have, any coal depôt in King George's Sound, and they are prepared to recommend its being abandoned for the present as a coaling station.

I am, &c.

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

h

(Signed)

No. 87.

ROBERT HALL

•

The Right Honourable Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor-General the Earl of Dufferin. (Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)

Downing Street, May 10, 1878. WILL send by to-morrow's mail recommendations of Colonial Defence Committee respecting Esquimalt.

Temporary employment of all guns now in store at Esquimalt has been sanctioned for the defence of that port.

With regard to preparing emplacements and mounting these guns in proper positions, and for organizing the force, whether purely local or embodied militia, for working them, and for the defence of the station, can you take the necessary steps?

If you require assistance of skilled officers will send them direct. Cost will be considered separately.

No. 85.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

Downing Street, May 1, 1878. IN your letter of the 17th ultįmo† you stated that the Colonial Defence Committee had forwarded Reports on all the Colonial ports which, in the absence of further instruc- tions from the Secretary of State, they had thought it necessary to consider. You added that they had abstained from making any suggestions as regards certain Canadian ports on the ground that the provision for their defence appeared to devolve on the Dominion Government. In the letter from this Office of the 8th instantt a copy was transmitted to you of a telegram from the Governor-General, urging the provision of a fleet of fast armed cruizers for the protection of the Atlantic seaboard; and, under all the circumstances, Sir Michael Hicks Beach thinks it important that the Committee should take into their consideration the question of the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports and favour him with any suggestions which, it their opinion, may be calculated to meet the case of this undefended seaboard in the event of its being suddenly subjected to the riske of war.

I am to inclose the paraphrase of a telegram which Sir M. Hicks Beach has addressed to the Governor-General in reply to bis telegram of the 4th instant. §

I am, &c.

R. H. MEADE.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Secret and Confidential.). Šir,

Downing Street, May 10, 1878.

I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach, to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee, the substance of a Confidential telegram which he has received from the Governor of Newfoundland with reference to the protection of the telegraph cable in the event of war.

I am to request that you will favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with your observations upon the question to which this telegram refers.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No, 88.

The Right Honourable Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor-General the Earl of

Dufferin (Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)

Downing Street, May 11, 1878. ESQUIMALT defences. Despatch respecting goes to you to-day through Consul- General, New York. Arrange with him for its being safely transmitted to you.

No. 89.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

The Right Honourable Sir M. B. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor-General the Earl of Dufferin. (Telegraphic.)

Downing Street, May 11, 1878. INFORMATION desired for Colonial Defence Committee. Description and number of local forces at St. John, Sydney, Pictou, and Charlottetown, and whether there are any guns at those places in serviceable condition, their number and calibre.

• No. 54.

1.No.359 + No. 74.

§ Nos. 72 and 77.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLLICO. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO