*38
39
No. 61.
No. 57.
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad. (Confidential.)
Sir,
Downing Street, November 19, 1879. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad, a copy of a précis of information concerning the Colony of New South Wales, collected and compiled by the Honourable W. Hely Hutchinson, formerly Private Secretary to the Governor of that Colony, but now Colonial Secretary of Barbados, which has been prepared at the suggestion of the Secretary of State for War with reference to the Colonial Defensive Organization of that Colony.
I am, &c.
Sir,
(Signed)
No. 58.
•
R. H. MEADE.
The Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad to Colonial Office.
13, Delahay Street, November 20, 1879.
I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, and of the inclosed précis of information concerning the Colony of New South Wales, collated and compiled by the Honourable W. Hely Hutchinson.
No. 59.
I have, &c. (Signed) H. JEKYLL
Sir,
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad.
Downing Street, November 24, 1879.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission for the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a letter from the War Office* respecting the guns and other stores ordered by the Government of Canada in June of last year for the defence of the Atlantic ports of the Dominion.
2. On reference to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's Secret despatch of the 16th August, 1878, to the Governor-General of Canada (printed at page 159 of Paper 35 E), it will be seen that his Lordship was informed that the manufacture of the guns in question would not be proceeded with without a further communication from his Government.
3. No reply has been received to that despatch, and I am therefore to request that the Royal Commissioners will favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with their views as to what steps they consider it would be desirable to take in the matter.
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EDWARD WINGFIELD.
No. 62.
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad.
て
Downing Street, November 26, 1879. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad, a copy of a despatcht from Major-General Sir W. F. Jervois, announcing his return to South Australia from visiting the International Exhibition at Sydney and the defence works in progress in New South Wales and Victoria, and stating that his Report on the subject of the defences of the Australian Colonies could not, for the reason men- tioned, be transmitted home before next mail.
4
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
HC.O. 885
Sir,
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, November 22, 1879. REFERRING to your letter of the 19th November, 1878, and previous corres- pondence, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform their Lordships whether the guns and ordnance stores which were lent by the Admiralty to the Dominion Govern- ment of Canada in 1878 can now be returned to the naval depôt at Esquimalt, observing that, in the event of their being retained by the Dominion Government, it will be necessary to put forward a claim for their value, unless the concurrence of the War Office and the sanction of the Treasury are obtained to their being transferred free of charge.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 60.
ROBERT HALL.
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Major-General Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B. Sir,
Downing Street, November 24, 1879.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 46 of the 6th October, § announcing your return from visiting the International Exhibition at Sydney and the defence works in progress in New South Wales and Victoria, and stating that your Report on the subject of the defences of the Australian Colonies could not, for the reason stated, be transmitted home before next mail.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
+ No. 57.
§ No. 55.
This précis is printed separately for the use of this Ofice.
No. 331 of Miscellaneous No. 35 "
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN BRAMSTON.
No. 63.
H. C. Huggins, Esq., to Colonial Office.
109, Ladbroke Grove, W., November 26, 1879.
I NOTICED in the "Times" of this morning that the Royal Commission, under the presidency of Lord Carnarvon, recently appointed to inquire into the condition and sufficiency of the means (both military and naval) provided for the defence of the important seaports within Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, has had its first meeting.
2.
am not aware whether the military provision for the defence of British Guiana is included in this inquiry, but as evidence on so important a subject, and with respect to so valuable a Colony, may not be wholly irrelevant, I am willing (with the permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies) to offer myself to the Board for examination.
3. The subject has engaged my attention for some time past, and my conviction is that I am in a position respectfully to submit for consideration suggestions which, if adopted, would not only secure for the Colony an ample and inexpensive colonial military force of some thousands of additional men for its protection, but which must necessarily result in the continuance of Her Majesty's troops at this particular station becoming neither obligatory nor necessary.
4. If it be the opinion of Sir Michael Hicks Beach that the suggestions, which I hereby profess to be able to offer, should be first submitted to him for consideration, I shall be prepared, as of course, to do so; otherwise, I have to request your kindness in informing me whether the permission asked is granted, with the view (as a preliminary step) of putting myself in communication with the Secretary of the Commission.
• No. 54.J
[1093]
I have, &c.
(Signed) 'HASTINGS C. HUGGINS.
† No. 55.
JM
4 PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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