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No. 64.

The Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad to Colonial Office.

Sir,

13, Delahay Street, November 28, 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 26th November, trans- mitting a copy of a despatch from Sir W. Jervois, dated the 6th October,† in which he announces his return to Adelaide and states the steps taken by him to inspect and report on the Australian defences.

No. 65.

I have, &c. (Signed)

H. JEKYLL.

Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad.

Downing Street, November 29, 1879.

Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commissioners on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty‡ respecting the guns and ordnance stores lent to the Government of Canada in 1878, and referred to in the correspondence noted in the margin;§ and I am to request to be favoured with the views of the Royal Commis- sioners as to the steps which they would recommend should be taken in the matter.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 66.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Governor Sir J. H. Glover, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.- (Received December 8.)

Government House, Newfoundland, November 26, 1879.

(Secret.) Šir,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Circular (1), dated the 21st October, inclosing a copy of a Commission passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, appointing Commissioners to inquire into the state of the defences of the more important Colonial ports and naval stations, and the best mode of placing them in a thoroughly secure condition.

I have communicated the contents of this Circular to my Government, and inclose a Minute of Council on the subject, which it is respectfully requested may be submitted to Her Majesty's Government.

I am causing to be prepared plans of the town and Harbour of St. John's and the surrounding country, showing the landing-place and route by which the French effected their occupation of St. John's in the year 1762, and those by which a British force subsequently recaptured it. Also the landing-place and road by which I consider an attacking force could best obtain possession of the town of St. John's by surprise. These, together with such information affecting the Colony under my Government, which may be necessary to assist the Commission in the prosecution of its labours, shall be promptly and carefully supplied.

'I have, &c. (Signed)

Inclosure in No. 66.

Minute of Council of November 24, 1879.

JOHN H. GLOVER.

HIS Excellency laid before Council despatches from the Right Honourable the Colonial Minister in reference to the appointment of the existing Commission in England on Colonial Defences, and desiring information of such particulars regarding this Colony as may be useful for the purposes of the Commission.

His Excellency said he would himself furnish such information as appeared to be the most important in relation to this subject, and it was resolved that the Executive would

+ No. 55.

↑ No. 59. § Admiralty, September 30, 1878, p. 189, Printed Paper 96 E; to Admiralty, November 19, p. 201, ditto.

No. 42.

• No. 69.

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recommend to the Legislature the adoption of such measures as may appear feasible, compatibly with the circumstances of the Colony, to aid in carrying out the object which Her Majesty's Government have in view.

E. D. SHEA, Clerk, Executive Council.

(Signed)

No. 67.

The Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce

Abroad to Colonial Office,

Sir,

13, Delahay Street, December 9, 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 18th November,* transmitting correspondence respecting the proposed defences of New Zealand.

The Commission are informed that the guns, guu-carriages, and ammunition recom mended by the Colonial Defence Committee of 1878 have been dispatched to the Colony; and they desire to draw attention to the fact that, in the absence of fortifications and of an adequately trained force, these valuable stores are not only useless, but presumably in a defenceless state.

The Commissioners think it would be desirable that such a communication should be addressed to the Colony as the Secretary of State thinks best to secure for them some protection, as soon as possible after the arrival of Colonel Scratchley, who, it is under- stood, is about to visit New Zealand.

て

I have, &c.

H. JEKYLL.

No. 68.

(Signed)

7

Governor-General the Marquis of Lorne, K.T., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach,

Bart.-(Received December 9.)

(Secret.) Sir,

Government House, Ottawa, November 24, 1879. MY advisers have had under consideration your despatch of the 5th February last,† marked Secret, relating to the conversion of merchant vessels into armed cruizers; and I have now the honour of forwarding to you a copy of an approved Report of a Committee of the Privy Council expressing a wish to receive, for the use of this Government, the information offered in a letter from the Admiralty of the 24th January last, which formed an inclosure in the despatch above quoted.

The Report of Council also states that the Canadian Government are prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in Captain Palliser's letter of the 20th December, 1878,† in regard to this subject.

Inclosure in No. 68.

I have, &c. (Signed)

LORNE.

Report of a Committee the Hon, the Privy Council for Canada, approved by his Excellency

the Governor-General in Council on the 21st November, 1879.

THE Committee of Council have had under consideration the despatch, Secret, of the 5th February, 1879, relating to conversion of merchant vessels into armed cruizers.

The Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence, to whom said despatch has been referred, states that he would be happy to receive, for the use of the Dominion Govern. ment, the information offered by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in their letter of the 24th January last; and he therefore recommends that your Excellency may be pleased to move the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the

matter.

The Minister further recommends that the suggestion on the same subject contained in the letter from Captain Edward Palliser, dated the 20th December, 1878, and communi-

+ Not printed.

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• No. 56.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TPELLICO. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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