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general organisation and training of the garrisons would have been at once taken in hand, and nothing would remain to be done except the provision of a few new type guns when circumstances permit.

I have received a letter from Mr. Stanhope, dated the 5th May, in which he permits me to state that he is personally favourable to the desire so strongly expressed by the. Colonial delegates for a breech-loading armament for the defence of King George's Sound, and that he would, at a favourable opportunity, state this view to the Treasury. I also personally entertain the same view.

We both fully appreciate the importance which is attached to a settlement of the question, and I trust that the discussion which has taken place will serve to throw light on the whole question, and facilitate the after discussion of this important subject.

(Signed) H. T. HOLLAND. May 1887.

SIR,

No. 69.

DEFENCE OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND.

LETTER FROM THE DELEGATES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

London, April 22, 1887. WE beg to place before you the following proposition with reference to the fortification of King George's Sound and Princess Royal Harbour.

The estimate placed before the Conference by Sir Henry Holland in the paper dated the 20th April is in respect of :—

Armament.

4-8-inch R.M.L. guns

2-40-pr. R.B.L.

23

4-9-pr. R.M.L.

"

Submarine mines

Value.

£

·

3,400

750

1,184

3,500

8,834

321

No. 70.

LIGHTHOUSE AND SIGNAL STATION AT CAPE LEEUWIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

SIR,

(CORRESPONDENCE.)

SIR F. N. BROOME (WESTERN AUSTRALIA) to COLONEL F. A. STANLEY. (Received September 21, 1885.)

Government House, Perth, August 6, 1885.

THE Governments of Victoria and New South Wales, having signified their willingness to contribute to the cost of erecting and, as I understand, maintaining a lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin, there seems, at last, a prospect of this work of inter- colonial importance being proceeded with.

2. The first step is to determine the exact site best suited for the light. With this object, I have obtained a report from Staff-Commander Coghlan, R.N., the officer in charge of the Admiralty survey of our coast, and I enclose copy of it, and of a minuto thereon by the Director of Works. I also enclose copy of a letter from the commander of the coasting steamer "South Australia."

3. I should be glad if these papers could be referred to the IIydrographer to the Admiralty, with an intimation that this Government, in view of the conflict of opinion existing as to the site of the light, would be obliged by the Hydrographor's recommendation on the subject.

4. Only one lighthouse can be erected at present. It is contemplated that the light shall be of the first order.

I have, &c., (Signed) F. NAPIER BROOME.

Colonel the Right Hon. F. A. Stanley, M.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

Reference :-

TEICO. 885 /

Lulu.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Total

The Australasian delegates unanimously object to the 8-inch R.M.L. guns being used, and by substituting for them 3-6-inch guns on H.P. mountings, the estimate for armament is increased by the sum of 6,5707., being the difference between the cost of the 4-8-inch R.M.L. guns and the 3-6-inch B.L. guns.

The total cost of the proposed armament that we deem would be acceptable to you would, therefore, be 15,4047.

This expenditure the Imperial Government is invited to bear, besides contributing to the construction of forts and the maintenance of the necessary garrison; but the Secre- tary of State for War cannot, at present, hold out any hope that Her Majesty's Government will accede to this proposition.

In order, therefore, that this work, so imperatively necessary in the interests of the Empire, should at once be undertaken, we would propose that, in the event of the Imperial Government hereafter undertaking to provide the improved armament, that Western Australia should relieve the other Australasian Colonies by herself undertaking to pay the sum of 5,0007. out of the 12,7007., the estimated cost of construction, leaving the sum of 7,7007. to be contributed by the other Australasian Colonies; and Western Australia further to undertake to pay one-fourth of the cost of maintenance, the total of which is estimated at 6,000l. per annum, which would provide a garrison of twenty- five artillerymen and five submarine miners.

We would direct your attention to the fact that Western Australia has already con- nected the Island of Breaksea with Albany by cable at a cost of 2,000, which is a work suggested as advantageous by Sir Henry Holland in his paper on the scheme of

defence.

We will be greatly obliged if you will inform us whether you would be prepared to recommend to your Government the acceptance of the scheme as now proposed by us, or upon what terms you would be prepared to do so.

To the Delegates from the

Australasian Colonies.

(Signed)

JOHN FORREST, SEP. BURT, Delegates for Western Australia.

STAFF COMMANDER COGHLAN, R.N., to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

As requested, have read the various nautical opinions about the proposed light or lights at Cape Leeuwin. All the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's captains recommend Cape Hamelin and all the coasting captains of the Adelaido Steamship Company recommend St. Alouarn Island as the best site. Each has its advantages, according as one studies the question from a Peninsular and Oriental captain's or from a coasting captain's point of view.

2. Annexed is a portion of the published chart on which I have drawn, in red and blue, respectively, the arcs of visibility in clear weather (20 miles radius) of a light on Cape Hamelin, and a light on Alouarn Island. Also a pamphlet concerning lights, for the use of the surveying officers of H.M. Navy, which may prove of service.

3. A light on Cape Hamelin, it seems to me, would be of most assistance to vessels approaching the Leeuwin from the north-westward, such as ocean-going steamships bound eastward. Alouarn Island would, it appears, be of most service to vessels approaching from the eastward.

4. From which quarter is a vessel's position most likely to be in error, approaching the Leeuwin, from the north-westward or from the castward ? The commanders of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company state that frequently (for 48 hours) they cannot get sights in the neighbourhood of Cape Leeuwin, and must trust mainly to the dead reckoning. A current sets frequently towards the land northward of Cape Leeuwin.. Therefore, the Peninsular and Oriental steamships give the Leeuwin a wide berth, and then haul up for Chatham Island or the white-topped rocks. The soundings, of course, will indicate a vessel's position.

5. But, omitting the question of soundings, and assuming that a vessel depending on her dead reckoning is expecting to sight the light on Alouarn Island, if she has been set inshore (as is not improbable), she would come down inside the line Alouarn X (see chart) without seeing the Alouarn light, for it would be cut off by the rise of the land,

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