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coaling-station in the event of Great Britain being engaged in a maritime war, it has occurred to them that either the Imperial Government or some of the Colonial Govern- ments might desire to secure the continuance of the establishment, which is of the most complete and efficient description.

It consists of a coal ground of 6 acres, substantially fenced; a jetty with a tramway running along it, also the necessary trucks; six lighters, three of them very fine ones capable of taking 600 tons, a number of other boats, a steam hoist, and a quantity of other useful plant. There is also a house for a foreman, and a larger house occupied by the Company's agent.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

A. M. BETHUNE, Secretary.

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English and to the French element in society, which elements were thus brought together constantly to an extent no longer possible.

5. Submitting the above remarks for your favourable consideration, I have, &c.

G. F. BOWEN.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart, M.P.,

(No. 358.)

Šir,

&c.

&c.

&c.

(Signed)

Inclosure 2 in No. 126.

T

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

A

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Sir,

No. 126.

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

Downing Street, February 14, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions, and Commerce Abroad, copies of despatches from the Governor of Mauritius with reference to the defence of that Colony, together with a copy of letter from this Department dated the 10th January, transmitting a copy of the Governor's despatch No. 358 of the 6th November to the War Office with the view of obtaining the opinion of the Secretary of State for War as to whether the question of the extension of the telegraph to Mauritius should, on military grounds, be again brought before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. No reply has as yet been received from the War Office.

I am, &c. (Signed)

Inclosure 1 in No. 126.

R. H. MEADE.

(No. 222.)

Government House, Mauritius, August 17, 1879. Sir,

WITH my despatch No. 10 of the 22nd April* ultimo I had the honour to transmit a copy of a letter addressed to me by Major-General Murray, C.B., commanding Her Majesty's troops in Mauritius, in which he gave his opinion that the permanent garrison of this island should not consist of less than one battery of the Royal Artillery, and one weak battalion of the line on the peace establishment of 500 men or thereabouts, i.e., of about 750 men of all arms.

2. For some years past, however, the garrison has not exceeded about 500 men of all arms, i.e., 1 battery of the Royal Artillery, and 1 wing, or 4 companies of a battalion of the line.

3. One battery of artillery is of course indispensable in the Imperial fortresses which defend Port Louis from foreign attack. I am informed, moreover, that my predecessor, Sir Arthur Phayre, after his long experience in India, was of opinion that not less than a wing, or half a battalion of the line, is required for the internal safety of this community; looking to the mere handful of whites (English and French) that represent the property and education of this Colony, and to the character and position of the overwhelming coloured population of Indian, African, Chinese, and Arab origin; looking also to the fact that only about one- sixth of the police force is composed of Europeans, the remaining five-sixths being composed of coloured men, chiefly Indians.

4. If the arrangement of the last few years is to be maintained, I would venture to submit that there is a strong feeling here that the wing of the regiment stationed at Mauritius should be the head-quarter's wing, to which is attached the regimental band. It has often been urged upon my attention since my arrival in this Colony that probably for some years to come the head-quarters of several regiments will be stationed in South Africa, and that the presence of a military band is of considerable political and social importance in Mauritius, for in former years, when there were two or three regiments in this island, the bands used frequently to play in public, and formed a common attraction alike to the

• Not printed.

Government House, Mauritius, November 6, 1879. ADVERTING to previous correspondence respecting the garrison and military defences of Mauritius, I have the honour to report that on the 15th instant Her Majesty's troopship "Crocodile" arrived at Port Louis from Cape Town and Durban, bringing back the half-battery of the Royal Artillery (about fifty officers and men), which was dispatched hence in last February to Natal, and conveying also three companies (about 260 officers and men), of the 91st Highlanders to relieve the detachment of the 88th (Connaught Rangers), lately quartered here. On the 17th instant the "Crocodile," after taking in coals and provisions, proceeded on its voyage to Bombay, carrying off the detachment of the 88th, with the head-quarters of that regiment which it had brought from the Cape. The "Crocodile" had also on board the greater part of the 17th Lancers, ordered from South Africa to India. The troopship "Serapis," with the 90th Regiment, two batteries of artillery, and the remainder of the 17th Lancers, has since called at Mauritius on its voyage to Bombay; and it is understood that other troopships will also call here shortly.

2. The garrison of Mauritius now consists, in round numbers, of 380 officers and men. As was stated in a former despatch, I agree with my predecessor Sir Arthur Phayre, with Major-General Murray, C.B., and with all the military authorities here, that it ought to be permanently fixed at the strength of not less than one weak battalion of the line on the peace establishment, or of the head-quarters wing (four companies) of a regiment at its full strength, and of one garrison battery of artillery; in other words, of a force of about 500 officers and men of all arms. It is considered by those best qualified to judge that it is essential for the support of the police and the firm maintenance of law and order, that the above force of Imperial troops should be stationed in a community consisting of not more than about 20,000 whites of European birth or descent (of which number only a few hundreds are of English race and language), in the midst of a population of not less than 80,000 creoles of mixed, chiefly African blood, and of an Indian population of over 250,000 Hindoos and Mohammedans. At the same time a force of 500 men is held to be sufficient for the defence, against all probable external attack, of the two forts (the citadel and Fort George), which command the town and harbour of Port Louis. It will be remembered that, in addition to the former armament, two 6-ton guns have been recently mounted on Fort George at the entrance of the harbour, and that torpedo lefences also are now being organized under the direction of an officer of the Royal Engineers. The officers commanding the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers further recommend that there should be mounted on Fort George a third gun of large calibre (18 tons), capable of resisting the possible attack of an iron-clad ship.

3. The military authorities believe that if a detachment of only 100 men or there- abouts, periodically relieved, were kept in the forts at Port Louis, and if a barrack with a hospital and the other necessary appurtenances were built for the remainder (400 officers and men), at Curepipe, the site of the present sanatorium, which is 1,800 feet above the sea, the troops would be almost as healthy in Mauritius as in England. Curepipe is connected by railway and telegraph with the two harbours of Port Louis and Mahebourg, and indeed with all parts of the island. Further, if this scheme were adopted, the sale of a portion of the large barracks, military hospitals, magazines, &c., at Port Louis and Mahebourg (sufficient for a garrison of nearly 3,000 men), and of the ground on which they stand, would, I am informed, defray the cost of the erection of the new barracks. Indeed, that cost would be soon defrayed by the saving effected on the large number of soldiers, each of whom costs the country at least 2007., who are now yearly invalided and sent home from Mauritius. It will be recollected that the plan of placing European troops in healthy stations on the hills, has already been adopted with great success in India, Jamaica, and other tropical countries. It should certainly be adopted also in Mauritius.

4. Another point to be considered is that the finances of this Colony could hardly

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