CO885(3-4) — Page 513

Sir,

of

196

No. 218.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, April 27, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt your letter of the 11th March,* stating that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do not consider it advisable to acquire the coaling depôt at Albany, King George's Sound, which the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company bave announced their intention to abandon; and I am to transmit to you, for their Lordships' information, a copy of a lettert which has since been received from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad on the subject. I am also to inclose, for their Lordships* information, copy of a letter,‡ in which the Company have been informed that the Admiralty do not desire to purchase their property; and also copies of two despatches§ which Sir Michael Hicks Beach has addressed to the Governor of Western Australia, with the view of ascertaining the wishes of his Government as to acquiring the Company's depôt.

No. 214.

K.C.M.G.

am, &c.

(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir W. C. F. Robinson,

(Secret.) Šir,

Downing Street, April 27, 1880, WITH reference to my despatch, General, of this day's date respecting the intention of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company to abandon their coaling station at King George's Sound, I have the honour to call your attention to the despatches noted, which it is desirable you should peruse when considering the question raised by the Company as to whether the Colony might desire to acquire their depot.

At the same time, I inclose, for your information, copies of letters from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad,** to whom the Company's offer has been submitted.

When considering the subject, you will of course bear in mind that a coaling station invites attack in time of war, and that unless it can be defended, which in the case of King George's Sound would appear at the present time to be out of the question, it would be better, from a defensive point of view, if no coal were kept there.

If, however, your Government should wish to acquire the station from the Company and to keep a small stock of coal there for its own purpose, I should have no objection to its doing so, provided that arrangements were made in time of war to enable the coal to be rapidly destroyed on the shortest notice, if an emergency requiring such a step should

occur.

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

No. 215.

197

"

now the honour to request to be informed of the wishes of your Government in the matter.

I have, &c. (Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 216.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. H. Glover, G.C.M.G.

(Confidential.)

Downing Street, April 27, 1880.

Sir,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 25th March in regard to the wish expressed to you by Mr. Whiteway to see Lieutenant Morgan's confidential Report on the defence of Newfoundland.

In reply, I have to request that you will ask Mr. Morgan to revise his Report by omitting those passages which seem only suited for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government and of the Defence Commission, and, on receiving this revised edition, copies

Government. of it will be furnished to you in print for the use of your

I have to add that it will be desirable that you should return to this Department the printed copies of the Report which have already been sent to you; but you are at liberty you desire to retain one copy for the confidential use of the Governor of Newfoundland, and to give one copy to Mr. Morgan for his own private use.

if

I have to add that I should be much obliged to Mr. Morgan if he would, when revising

his Report, fill in the references which are wanting in the printed copies of it which are now in your possession.

(Signed)

I have, &c.

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

K.C.M.G.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir W. C. F. Robinson,

(General.) Sir,

Downing Street, April 27, 1880.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter†† from the Peninsular and Orfental Steam Navigation Company, notifying their intention to dispense with their coaling establishment at Albany, King George's Sound, and inquiring whether Her Majesty's Government or the Government of Western Australia would desire to purchase the property...

I have ascertained from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that they do not desire to acquire the property, and have informed the Company accordingly; and I have

† No. 193.

No. 212.

• No. 170.

$ Nos. 914 and 215.

No. 215. ↑ No. 347 of "Mistellähedus No. 35 ■," No. 18 of " Miscellaneous No. 38,” and No. 19 of this Paper.

• Nos. 170 and 184.

+ No. 125.

/

• No. 200.

[1098]

37

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

CO. 885

Reference :-

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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