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tion and instruction, sufficient particulars are not given therein to render them suitable for guiding manufacture.

I am, &c.

(For Director of Artillery and Storea),

(Signed) H. T. ALDERSON, Lieutenant-Colonel.

No. 187.

Governor the Right Honourable Sir H. B. E. Frere, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., to the Right Honourable Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received March 25.) (Secret.) Sir,

Government House, Cape Town, March 2, 1880. REFERRING to the Report of the Defence Commission forwarded with my Secret despatch of the 16th ultimo, I have the honour now to transmit a Report from Colonel Law, C.B., commanding Royal Artillery, South Africa, and to request that it may be placed among the inclosures attached to the minutes of the sittings of the Commission as a portion of Inclosure " D."

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. B. E. FRERE.

179

No. 188.

Governor Lord A. Loftus to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.— (Received March 27.)

March 27, 1880. ACTING Agent-General for this Colony in London has been appointed Delegate to Defence Commission.

(Telegraphic.)

Sir,

No. 189.

Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, War Office, and Admiralty,

Downing Street, March 30, 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 Com- merce Abroad] [Secretary of State for War] [Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty], printed copies of a despatch from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, inclosing the Reports of the Local Commission appointed for the purpose of reporting upon the works and armaments necessary for the defence of the Cape Peninsula.

The remarks of the Cape Ministry on the inclosed Reports will be transmitted to you as soon as they are received from the Governor.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

T

Reference :-

C.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Inclosure in No. 187.

Minute by Lieutenant-Colonel Law.

Cape Town, February 19, 1880. WHEN the batteries for the defence of the Cape Peninsula are completed and armed, I am of opinion, having in view the distances these batteries are from one another, that two garrison batteries will be required in this district, one to be quartered at Simon's Town, the other at Cape Town.

The distances are as follows:- Cape Town to Simon's Town, 23 miles.

Hout's Bay

+1

17

21

Simon's Bay to Hout's Bay 21 "1

Cape Town or Table Bay District.-Three batteries-Fort Wynyard, Fort Amsterdam, Fort Knokke (exclusive of the Castle and Imhoff batteries).

Fort Wynyard to Fort Knokke, 2 miles.

Simon's Bay District.--Three batterics-North Battery, South Battery, Cemetery

Battery.

North Battery to South Battery, 2 miles.

Even at present, when many of the batteries are not completed, the men of the Royal Artillery, owing to their small number, have constantly to be moved from Cape Town to Simon's Town, and vice-versd, for the purpose of performing the necessary duties connected with the armament of the two districts.

In the event of 18-ton guns being substituted for the present armament, and a battery constructed and armed at Hout's Bay, as recommended by the Defence Commis- sion, the inadequacy of one battery of Royal Artillery for the mere ordinary peace duties connected with the armament will become still more apparent.

In time of war with one or more maritime Powers I consider that, for the proper defence of the Cape Peninsula, two garrison batteries of Royal Artillery, with their war establishment, are absolutely essential.

An addition in non-commissioned officers and men to the establishment of the ope battery now here would, in my opinion, not meet the case, as officers of Royal Artillery would be required.

سم

I have not in my possession the Report of Lord Chelmsford on the defences of the Cape Peninsula, but I can remember that he recommended two batteries for the district.

In the above remarks I have not lost sight of the fact that the defence of the Cape Peninsula in time of war is expected to be largely supplemented by volunteers.

(Signed) F. T. A. LAW, Lieutenant-Colonel,

Commanding Royal Artillery South Africa;

Member of Defence Commission.

Sir,

て

I (Signed)

am,

&c.

R. H. MEADE.

No. 190.

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

Downing Street, March 31, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 11th instant,t 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 paraphrase of a telegram from Sir William Jervoist expressing his wish to give evidence before the Commission as a Delegate from South Australia if it is considered desirable.

2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach is disposed to think that the other Australasian Colonies would not approve of Sir W. Jervois being called as a witness at the present stage, and that it would be inconvenient for him again to leave his Government, from which he has been much absent at the present moment.

3. The Secretary of State would, therefore, propose to reply by telegraph, to the effect that the Royal Commission do not feel it necessary to request any further expres sion of Sir W. Jervois's views at this particular stage, and that their object is to hear the views of the various Colonial Administrations independently of any Imperial Officer.

4. I am also to enclose a copy of a paraphrase of a telegram from the Governor of Victoria,§ stating that Mr. Sargood will be deputed by his Government to give evidence before the Commission.

5. Sir Michael Hicks Beach understands that Mr. Sargood is not a member of the present Victorian Ministry, or a prominent politician, but that he has taken an active part in the Volunteer movement and in the question of the defences of Victoria.

1 am, &c.

(Signed) E. WINGFIELD.

P.S. Since the above was written, the accompanying copy of a telegram has been received from the Governor of New South Wales, announcing the appointment of the Acting Agent-General for New South Wales in London as Delegate for that Colony.

E. W.

+

• No. 172.

• No. 170.

† No. 167.

I No. 179.,

§ No. 182.

No. 188.