CO885(3-4) — Page 478

128

No. 128.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (General.) Sir,

Downing Street, February 14, 1880.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 431 of the 19th December and 441 of the 28th December,* with reference to the defence of Mauritius, and to inform you that they have been submitted for the consideration of the Royal Com- mission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, together with your despatches No. 358 of the 6th November and No. 222 of the 17th August, 1879.+

I have, &c.

(Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.

129

referred for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Posses- sions and Commerce Abroad.

I am now to acquaint you that the Commissioners have furnished the Secretary of State with a statement of their views upon the subject, and that Sir Michael Hicks Beach, having given the fullest consideration to the matter, has arrived at the conclusion that, having regard to the objections which exist to any line of cable over which this country would have but imperfect control in time of war, the scheme which you have submitted to him is not one which he could recommend for adoption by Her Majesty's Government.

I am, &c.

R. H. MEADE.

(Signed)

No. 132.

h

No. 129.

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

Sir,

Downing Street, February 17, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 26th November last, 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 Reports of Major-General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, R.E., G.C.M.G., C.B., on the defence of the Australian Colonies, together with the copy of a further despatch from that officer on the subject, dated the 29th November, and of a telegram dated the 14th January last.¶

Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.— (Received February 18.)

(No. 1.) Šir,

MAJOR-GENERAL DONOVAN having informed me that the military vote for the

Government House, Hong Kong, January 13, 1880. batteries was exhausted, and that about 2201. more would be requisite to put them in such a state as to be safe from the effects of rain, I have ventured to advance this sum from the Colonial Treasury,

2. I inclose, for your information, a copy of the correspondence on the subject.

て

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. POPE HENNESSY.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 180.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Major-General Sir W. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B.

Downing Street, February 17, 1880.

(Secret.) Sir,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, marked Separate, of the 29th November last, § reporting on the defence of the Australian Colonies, and inclosing Reports from the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania upon the existing condition of the defences in each of those Colonies. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your further despatch of the same date,|| marked Confidential, relative to the defences of Western Australia, and of your telegram of the 14th January,¶ with reference to the arrival of Colonel Scratchley in New Zealand; and I have the honour to inform you that copies of all these documents, which I have read with much interest, have been laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

I have, &c.

Sir,

(Signed)

No. 181.

Colonial Office to G. F. Smith, Esq.

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 132.

Assistant Military Secretary to Colonial Secretary.

Military Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, January 12, 1880.

I HAVE the honour, by direction of his Excellency the Major-General commanding,

to inform you that the commanding Royal Engineer reports that it will take about 2201.

to put the nearly-finished batteries at this station in such a state as to be considered safe from rain, and it is highly desirable that these works should be completed before the next rainy season.

There are no military funds available for this purpose, and the Major-General requests that you will bring this to the notice of the Governor, with a view of ascertaining whether his Excellency can devise any means for executing the necessary works.

M, E. HICKS BEACH.

Sir,

Downing Street, February 18, 1880. YOU were informed by the letter from this Department of the 30th ultimo that** the proposal which you submitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in your letter of the 6th January,tt for establishing telegraphic communication with Bermuda, had been

• Inclosures 4 and 5 in No. 126.

f No. 97.

|| No. 98.

Inclosures 1 and 2 in No. 126.

No. 90. tt Inclosure 2 in No. 112.

1 No. 62.

• No. 113.

I have, &c. (Signed) S. G. HUSKISSON, Major,

Inclosure 2 in No. 132.

Assistant Military Secretary.

Colonial Secretary to Assistant Military Secretary.

I AM directed by his Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th January regarding the completion of the batteries, and I am to inform you, for the information of his Excellency the Major-General commanding, that the Governor has much pleasure in advancing the money from Colonial funds, pending an application to the Imperial Government for repayment.

I have, &c. (Signed) W. H. MARCH,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, January 13, 1880.

Colonial Secretary.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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