(Secret.)
My Lord,
158
No. 286.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Bruch, Bart., to the Barl of Dufferin.
Downing Street, August 14, 1878. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, Confidential, of the 26th June,* I have the honour to acquaint you that I have been in communication with the Board of Admiralty respecting the supply of ammunition from the Naval Stores' at Esquimalt, and I learn that, owing to a recent increase in the reserves of ammunition, &c., to bạ maintained at Esquimalt for Her Majesty's ships, the mangazine space at that depôt is barely sufficient for the requirements of Her Majesty's naval service.
2. In these circumstances I would suggest, for the consideration of your Ministers, whether it would not be desirable to adopt the suggestion of the Adjutant-General of the Dominion Militia contained in the second inclosure to your Lordship's despatch, and to erect a magazine and lay in a store of ammunition.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 287.
(Secret and Confidential.)
159
No. 289.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
Downing Street, August 16, 1878.
Sir,
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state, in reply to your letter of the 8th August,* marked "Secret," that he concurs with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in the opinion that the Whitehead torpedoes are not well suited for Colonial defence.
2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be glad to be informed what the Lords Com- missioners would recommend respecting the simpler form of torpedo, if they should consider that it would fall within the means of Colonial resources, and, in the latter case, he would like to be furnished with some information with regard to its cost, working, and management, &c.
I
am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 290.
h
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Marquis of Normanby.
(Secret and Confidential.) My Lord,
Downing Street, August 15, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 24 of the 22nd June,† on the subject of my cypher telegram of the 28th May, relating to the defence of New Zealand.
2. I have to point out that it was intended to offer the services of an Engineer Officer from this country, it being unlikely that the services of one could be spared from New South Wales, and if an officer is sent from England he would have the advantage of personal communication with the Juspector-General of Fortifications, who is a member of the Colonial Defence Committee.
3. Although happily the threatened war has been averted, I hope your Government will not relax their exertions to place the Colony on a sound footing in regard to the defence of its principal ports.
4. The despatch now acknowledged having referred to a cypher telegram should not have been numbered but should have been marked Confidential, and I request that your Lordship will be good enough to cause it to be removed from amongst the public despatches of the Colony.
(Confidential.) Šir,
Į have, &c. (Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 288.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, August 16, 1878.
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st July, 1878, forwarding copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, inclosing correspondence showing the steps taken by him for the temporary defence of Singapore, and to state that Secretary Colonel Stanley learns with satisfaction that the Colonial authorities were alive to the necessity of taking measures for the defence of the harbour and roadstead of Singapore, and that they were making use of the limited means at their disposal for that purpose; but as these measures were taken previous to the receipt of the instractions and authority for expenditure sent out from this Office on the 18th April last, which must have arrived at Singapore soon after the despatch of the Governor dated 23rd May was written, Secretary Colonel Stanley proposes to defer taking any further steps until the action taken upon those instructions is known.
• No. 208.
† No. 272.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
BURY.
↑ No. 259.
(Secret.)
My Lord,
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Earl of Dufferin.
WITH reference to my cypher telegram of the 9th instant,t I have the honour to
Downing Street, August 16, 1878. transmit to your Lordship, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee‡ upon the correspondence which has taken place on the subject of the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports.
1
2. Your Lordship will have been informed by the telegram above referred to that the guns ordered for your Government could not have been manufactured by the time mentioned in your cypher telegram of the 2nd instant, and as the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee may lead your Government to modify their views, the manufacture of these guns will not be proceeded with without a further communication from you.
8. I have to express the satisfaction with which Her Majesty's Government have observed the readiness of the Dominion Government to do what might be necessary for the defence of Canada, and I feel confident that, in dealing with this important question, your Ministers will give that consideration to the views of the Colonial Defence Committee to which, as coming from so high an authority, they are justly entitled.
(Secret and Confidential.)
I have, &c.
(Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 291.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street; August 16, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 20th May, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Mauritius,|| stating that he has been informed by the Commanding Officer that he has received intelligence that two 7-ton gune complete have been shipped for Mauritius, which will be mounted in Fort George.
I am, (Signed)
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
No. 292.
&c.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, August 16, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will state to Secretary Colonel Stanley, in reply to your letter of the 8th instant, that he attaches great importance to the encouragement of the volunteer movement in Hong
• No. 274.
No. 118.
+ No. 277.
|| No. 284.
1 No. 280. ◄ No. 276.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mwinumimC.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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