CO885(3-4) — Page 446

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 885

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Recommendations with reference thereto.

Action taken in

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3. The recommendations made by me for the protection of the principal harbours of ~Australia will be found in my Reports on the defences of the several Colonies, copies of which are annexed, and the steps taken towards carrying out those recommendations will be gathered from the other documents transmitted herewith. It is only just to Colonel Scratchley that I should remark that he has been indefatigable in his exertions to push forward the execution of the defensive works in each of the Colonies.

4. In New South Wales provision has been made by loan for works, armaments, and New South Wales. torpedoes to the amount of 160,0001.; and of this sum 56,2381. has been expended upon the reconstruction of land batteries, the formation of defensive inclosures, the erection of barracks, and the supply of a large store of torpedoes, with all necessary appliances. Firing and observing stations have been built in connection with the lines of submarine defence, and the torpedo system appears in all respects to be very complete. The neces sary armaments for the works at Port Jackson, Botany Bay, and Newcastle-excepting four heavy rifled guns yet to be ordered for Port Jackson have already been supplied. Steps are being taken with a view of entering into contracts for the execution of works for the defence of Botany Bay and Newcastle, and for additional batteries recom- mended for Port Jackson.

Action taken in Victoria.

5. Besides the provision for works, armaments, and torpedoes, an annual expenditure, estimated this year at 86,4841., is incurred for military forces in New South Wales. There are three well-trained batteries of permanent artillery, now numbering 351 officers, non-com. missioned officers, and men, and commanded by an officer in the Royal Artillery, who has the local rank of Colonel. There are also volunteer forces as follows, viz. :-300 artillery, 60 engineers, 100 torpedo and signal corps, and 1,281 infantry, making a total of 1,741 officers and men. In addition to these there is a volunteer naval brigade numbering 328 officers and men. Including the permanent artillery, the whole force numbers 2,420 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men.

6. The whole, excepting the naval brigade, is commanded by an officer having the local rank of Colonel, who formerly held a commission in the infantry of the regular army, to whose Report, dated 6th ultimo, I beg to refer as to many details respecting the force. The torpedo and signalling corps is commanded by the head of the Postal Telegraph Department. The naval brigade is commanded by the President of the Marine Board, formerly a Master in the Royal Navy.

7. The volunteers are annually subjected to continuous training (special instruction being given, in their respective duties, to the artillery, engineer, and torpedo corps) for six consecutive days, for each of which a private is paid 10s. Attendance at drill is required on at least sixteen days during the year, for each of which he receives 58.

8. The naval brigade is trained to the use both of great guns and small arms, and is available for the defence of the Colony, either ashore or afloat. Excepting a small torpedo vessel, built at Sydney, no vessel of war has, however, as yet been provided by the Colony; and the services of the naval brigade are at present restricted to the performance of duties connected with the land defences.

9. In Victoria, a Bill was passed by the House of Assembly, in 1877, providing for the whole sum, viz., 380,000l., recommended by me to be expended upon works, arma ments, torpedoes, &c., for the defences of that Colony. Of that sum, 350,000l. was for Port Philip, and the remaining 30,0001. for defences of three harbours to westward thereof, viz., Warnambool, Belfast, and Portland. The passing of the Bill by the Asssembly unfortunately occurred just at the time of the differences between the two Houses of Parliament, and in consequence of an objection to the form in which the measure was presented to the Legislative Council, that body "laid aside" the Bill. The Council, however, almost immediately afterwards passed a resolution expressing their unanimous agreement with the proposals which I had made, and for giving effect to which the Bill was intended to provide. The result of these proceedings has been that, notwith- standing the unanimity that prevailed with regard to the scheme of defence, no great progress has taken place in carrying it into execution. The Government of Victoria, however, has proceeded with some of the works recommended, to the extent specified in the accompanying Report by Colonel Scratchley, dated the 15th October, the expenditure being defrayed from the ordinary revenue.

10. A sum of nearly 70,0001, including 21,0001. for the conversion of the "Nelson' (hereinafter referred to), and 17,0001. for naval armaments, has been appropriated for defences during the last two years, irrespective of the annual outlay upon local military and naval forces. The foundations for the fort proposed to command the south (the main) channel are in progress; the purchase of Swan Island-the site for a work to command the west channel has been effected; a battery, not mentioned in Colonel Scratchley's Report, has been in part constructed, and guns mounted thereon, at Queens-

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cliff; and another, a temporary work, also armed, at Point Nepean. A portion of the torpedo equipment required for the defence of the channels has also been provided, and a torpedo launch ordered from England, but the greater part of the submarine-mining stores required for Port Philip has not yet been supplied, and the organization for the torpedo defences does not appear to be as yet in a satisfactory state.

11. The estimate for the annual expenditure on military forces in Victoria for the current year is 77,2321., of which 37,2157. is for the Naval Department. There is a per- manent artillery force of 180 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. volunteer forces, as follows, viz. :-1,081 artillery, 169 engineers, 220 cavalry, 1,550 There are also infantry, and a small torpedo and signal corps, 24 in number. Including the permanent artillery, the whole of the land force numbers 3,224 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. There is also a paid naval force, numbering 217, besides a "naval reserve" of 287 officers, petty officers, and seamen. Victoria thus number a general total of 3,668.

The military and naval forces in the Colony of

12. As in the case of New South Wales, the military forces are under the command of an officer having the local rank of Colonel, who formerly held a commission in the Imperial infantry. The naval forces are commanded by a retired Commander of Her Majesty's navy. The volunteers of Victoria are not subjected to any continuous training, and, as a rule, only receive instruction in drill after dusk, in sheds which have been erected for the purpose in the several head-quarter districts. The effectives receive a capitation grant-for the cavalry of 31., for the infantry of 21. 108. per annum.

The papers furnished

by the Commandant supply numerous details relating to the organization, regulations, proceeedings, and past history of the military forces of the Colony.

13. In South Australia the sum appropriated to military works and armaments Action taken in during the last two years has been 67,7061. A battery for four powerful rifled guns for South Australia. the defence of Port Adelaide is far, advanced towards completion, and a military road, about 3 miles in length, has been (constructed along the shore in connection (with the battery. The armament for this work, as also for a second battery not yet commenced, has been supplied. Field guns-16-pounder and 12-pounder muzzle-loading rifled-bave also been provided, to be used in opposing the landing of an enemy in the neighbourhood of the port.

year

14. Besides the provision for works and armaments, an annual expenditure, esti- mated for the year 1879-80 at 25,2121. is incurred for military forces in South Australia. A volunteer force, clothed by the State, and of which each member, when on duty, receives pay, has been formed. It at present consists of 954 officers and 30 are cavalry, 140 artillery, and the remainder infantry. Rifle companies, which are men, of which unpaid, and provide their own clothing, have also been formed. popular. It now numbers upwards of 600, may be expected to increase largely from

This force is very to year. The total military force at present is 1,554 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men.

It has been organized, and is commanded, by a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Artillery, with the local Imperial rank of Colonel, assisted by a staff officer-a Major in the regular army. Both these officers are paid from colonial funds.

15. The volunteers are enrolled for three years, and can be paraded, the cavalry and infantry seventy-two, and the artillery ninety-six times in the year. They are all actually called out, in daytime, from forty-five to fifty times a-year, in addition to which they have also voluntary parades after dusk. Each infantry volunteer is paid 58. per diem, and each artillery volunteer 6s. per diem, for every day-i.e., a period exceeding five hours-on which he may be on duty. For each half-day-i.c., a period not less than two nor more than four hours-the volunteer receives half a-day's pay. every volunteer receives 48. per diem for each day on which he may be required to leave In addition to his daily pay, the district in which he is enrolled. Every member of the rifle companies subscribes 10%. a-year towards the expenses of the Association.

16. An Act was passed last year for establishing a permanent force of 130 officers and mea, either artillery or infantry, but intended to be chiefly artillery. My Ministers fully recognize the importance of this force, but, owing to financial and other reasons (as stated by the Chief Secretary in his Report), no steps have as yet been taken for raising it.

17. In Queensland 32,000l. has been voted during the last two years for works and Action taken in armaments, and about half that sum has been expended. A battery for four rif.ed

Queensland.

guns

is being constructed at Lytton, on the right bank of the Brisbane River, and several miles below the city. The fire from this work, in conjunction with torpedoes, will prevent the passage of an enemy's vessel to Brisbane. Torpedoes have been procured, and a further supply is about to be obtained. Light field-pieces have also been provided, to be used in opposing a landing on the coast on either side of the entrance to the Brisbane River, or

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