CO885(3-4) — Page 437

58

No. 70.

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

Sir,

Abroad to Colonial Office.

13, Delahay Street, December 10, 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 29th November,* transmitting a letter from the Admiralty respecting the guns lent last year to the Govern- ment of the Dominion of Canada from the Naval Reserve Stores at Esquimalt.

The Commissioners are informed that these guns have been replaced at the expense of the War Department by a like number of similar guns, which are now in store at Esquimalt and ready for issue to Her Majesty's ships.

The question of the permanent defences of the harbours of Vancouver's Island will be considered by the Commission, who will report on the incidence of expense connected with their construction and armament.

I have, &c.

Sir,

59

No. 73.

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

Downing Street, December 13, 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, copies of the letters respecting the steps which have recently been taken in Canada for the conversion on the Palliser system of the obsolete smooth-bore guns in the possession of the Dominion Government, and showing the results obtained from the proof of the first gun which has been converted,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

Inclosure 1 in No. 73.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Sir,

(Signed)

No. 71.

H. JEKYLL.

Sir,

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

Downing Street, December 12, 1879.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad, a copy of a lettert from Mr. Hastings C. Huggins, one of the Stipendiary Magis- trates in British Guiana, offering to be examined before the Commission with reference to the defence of that Colony.

Mr. Huggins has held the office of Stipendiary Magistrate in British Guiana for upwards of sixteen years, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach thinks that his long colonial service and acquaintance with British Guiana may enable him to give some intelligent information to the Royal Commission, although he cannot undertake to express any opinion as to Mr. Huggins' knowledge of the subjects under their consideration.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 72.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Colonial Office to H. C. Huggins, Esq.

Downing Street, December 12, 1879.

Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo,+ offering to give evidence before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and.Commerce abroad respecting the defence of British Guiana.

I am to inform you, in reply, that Sir Michael Hicks Beach has caused a copy of your letter to be sent to the Royal Commissioners.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

• No. 65.

+ No. 63.

Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, June 8, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that when I was in Canada last September I found the Dominion ill-supplied with rifled cannon suitable for fortifications and earth works.

ン

I was informed by the authorities that they had a large number of smooth-bore guns quite obsolete for modern warfare.

On inquiry was at once informed by Lieutenant-Colonel T. B. Strange, R.A., Inspector of Artillery, that there were 19 guns which could be converted to excellent 80-pounder Palliser rifles, and no less than 350 other guns which could be converted to 64-pounder Palliser rifles.

He

I found in Colonel Strange an officer of the highest scientific attainments. assured me that Canadian iron was excellent, and that the work could be done in Canadian shops, and thus the money spent would remain in Canada. On laying the matter before General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., he gave it his warmest support.

My brother, Sir William Palliser, told me to give his drawings and all necessary information and instruction to the Canada Engine Works, Montreal, free of all claims pecuniary or other on the Government or on the manufacturers.

The Honourable A, Mackenzie directed a gun to be sent to the works, and it is now being converted under, Colonel Strange's supervision and at Sir William Palliser's cost, who has presented the gun to the Dominion.

heart.

I am informed that if this gun does well the Canadian Government intend to convert

a certain number of guns every year. This is the object Sir Edward Selby Smyth has at Lieutenant-Colonel Strange has requested me to send out a tool to rifle the gun, as they have none. It is a cylinder of iron with a cutter fixed in it.

I have the honour to request that you will have the goodness to obtain permission for

me to purchase this tool at the Royal Gun Factories, Woolwich.

The Right Hon. the

Sir,

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

I have, &c.

(Signed) EDWARD PALLISER,

Inclosure 2 in No. 73.

Late Captain 7th Hussars.

Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, September 18, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 12th August last, and in answer beg to inform you that I have received a letter from the Assistant Superin- tendent Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich, informing me that the tool for rifling the 64-pounder Palliser gun in Canada will be ready on the 23rd instant.

My brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Palliser, C.B., is converting this gun at his own expense at the Canada Engine Works, Montreal, in order that the Canadian people may learn how to make heavy-rifled guns giving the greatest power at the least

cost.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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