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suggestion contained in Captain Palliser's letter of the 20th December, 1878,* relative to conversion of certain cast-iron guns into rifled guns, my Lords desire to point out that, although the gun-fittings adopted by the Admiralty and described in the accompanying memoranda are satisfactory as regards 64-pounder guns with 8lb. charge, the gun as proposed by Sir William Palliser will be of greater length, and will fire a greater charge than our service 64-pounder, and will most probably have an increased recoil, which may necessitate stronger fittings.

3. Steps are being taken, which will probably occupy considerable time, to ascertain by trial what alterations and additions may be necessary for heavier guns than 64-pounders. 4. In the meantime, however, my Lords think it advisable to furnish such information as they have for the use of the Dominion Government, and the further particulars referred to will, if desired, be furnished hereafter, as soon as the necessary trials have been carried out.

93

The magazines, shot boxes, &c., should be placed as low down in the ship as possible, as indicated in sketch, not only that they may be better protected from injury, but also that they may help to balance the weight of the gurs on the upper deck and so preserve the stability of the ship, as far as possible, intact.

The number of rounds per gun 'provided for is eighty. For a ship carrying four 64-pounders and one 40-pounder, and having fifty men provided with rifles, &c., the following articles would be required :—

Powder magazine tanks Tank for Snider cartridges

Boxes for shell.

Boxes for case-slot..

Ready use shell boxes

Arm stands

No.

2

1

10

2

10 5

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

No. 115.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

c.o.

Reference :-

885

4

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Inclosure in No. 114.

Memorandum.

THE Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty require that before a ship can be considered suitable for employment for State purposes she should be so divided by bulk- heads into watertight compartments that she should continue to float in smooth water with any one compartment in free communication with the sea.

This condition should be insisted on before the question of arming is entertained. The confidential records of the Admiralty contain detailed particulars and drawings of all the British-home or Colonial-registered ships which comply, or are building to comply, with the above condition. There are at present more than 150 on the list.

In this number are included eight ships trading between Canadian ports and England, viz., the "Lake Winnipeg," Manitoban," Quebec," "Lucerne," "Waldensian," "Phoenician," "Caspian," and "Nestorian."

In the following pages are given illustrative sketches and the leading particulars of these ships.

Speed is a most important consideration in the selection of ships for such purposes; and a speed at sea of at least 12 knots an hour for a period of twelve hours should be aimed at.

The ships now trading to Canada are not of high speed, but most of the first-class ships trading to New York and elsewhere have speeds ranging from 12 knots to 16 knots

an hour.

The engines and boilers should be protected from damage, from shot and shell fire, by coals in bulk and iron plates (see paper on Coal Target), and such ships should be selected as have their coal bunkers arranged in a manner to give the required protection.

The powder, projectiles, and small arms should be carried in specially prepared portable magazines, and special fittings for working the guns should be provided.

A number of sets of these articles are kept in store at the home dockyards; and, if desired, a complete set could be supplied to the Canadian Government as patterns.

Illustrative sketches of some of these fittings are given in the following pages :- A complete set of drawings of the "Lake Winnipeg" are forwarded to show how the guns, magazines, and coals may be arranged.

L

The drawings represent the actual ship with her coal stowed as in her normal condition.

The broadside and stern guns represent either the new or the converted 64-pounder. The gun at the bow is a 40-pounder.

The number of guns shown is thirteen, and this number, if desired, might well be carried in the "Lake Winnipeg," on the conditions given in the sketch. They are, how. ever, shown in this sketch merely to illustrate an arrangement which might be adopted. The case of each ship should be considered separately, and in most cases it will be thought preferable to carry guns on the upper deck only, and to work torpedoes from the main- deck ports.

The "Hecla," which has been fitted as a representative armed merchantman, carries five 64-pounders and one 40-pounder on her upper deck, but she has fittings for two other 64-pounders, and could carry two more if desired, making ten guns in all.

Whitehead torpedoes are fired from a port on each side of the main deck.

• Not printed.

Sir,

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

Downing Street, January 31, 1880.

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, the accompanying papers relating to a proposal made by the Government of Newfoundland that an Imperial subsidy should be granted towards the construction of a graving dock at St. John's.

I am to request that the Commission will be good enough to take these papers into their consideration, and to favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with their views as to whether the value of the proposed dock for Imperial purposes is sufficient to justify a compliance with the application of the Colonial Government.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

Inclosure in No. 115.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

SCHEDULE of Correspondence respecting the Graving Dock at St. John's, to accompany

above letter to Colonial Defence Commission.

Mr. Whiteway, June 17, War Office, 9697/79.

Colonial Office to Admiralty, July 5, ditto.`

Admiralty to Colonial Office, July 23, Admiralty, 11828/79.

Colonial Office to Admiralty, August 14, ditto.

Governor (extract from Confidential paragraphs 6 and 7), August 20, Governor, Confidential,

13870/79.

Colonial Office to Admiralty, September 6, ditto.

Admiralty to Colonial Office, September 9, Admiralty, 14414.

Governor, No. 102, October 29, 1879, Governor 102, 17489/79.

Governor, No. 115 (extract of despatch and inclosure), November 13, 1879, Governor 115,

18315.

Colonial Office to Governor (as marked No. 78), November 23, 1879, Governor, 17489. Colonial Office to Admiralty, November 26, 1879, ditto.

Admiralty, December 30, 1879, Admiralty, 20507.

Colonial Office to Governor, No. 5, January 10, 1880, ditto.

No. 116.

Governor-General the Marquis of Lorne, K.T., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received February 3.) (Secret.)

Sir,

Government House, Ottawa, January 20, 1880.

I DULY submitted, for the consideration of my Government, copies of your Circular despatches of the 21st and 22nd October last* in relation to the Royal Commission appointed by Her Majesty's Government to inquire into the state of Colonial defences.

1 have now the honour to inclose to you a copy of an approved Report of a Committee of the Privy Council, stating that the Militia Department will be prepared to furnish any information affecting the dominion required by the Commission.

I have, &c. (Signed) LORNE.

[1098]

• Nos. 42 and 44.

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