383
سا
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 8855
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Naval forces
Land forces
£ 37,885 131,117
VICTORIAN NAVY.
LIST OF SHIPS and TORPEDO BOATS, VICTORIAN NAVY.
In addition to which was taken, towards the erection of forts, bat-
teries, &c., in the Colony, and arming the same, a vote of
-
148,500
Total for the year
317,502
No.
Name, Tonnage, &c.
Arnuament.
Comple.
ment of Officers and Men.
A further expenditure on forts and batteries is projected of 436,000, which is not included in the following summary.
I
Cerberus, 2,350 tons, Armoured Turret Ship
The actual expenditure on the defences of the Colony between 1854 and 1887 has therefore been :-
2
Nelson, 2,700 tons, Wooden Steam Frigate
+
Two 7-inch 68-pr.; 20 64-pr. M.L.R.; one
Gatling.
Four 10-inch M.L.R, 18-ton guns; six Nor-
denfelt guns.
150
120
3
*Victoria, 450 tons, Steel Gun Vessel -
-
One 10-inch R.B.L. 25-ton gun; two 124-pr.;
two Nordenfelts.
17
£
4
Albert, 350 tons, Steel Gun Boat
One 8-inch 12-ton, one 6-inch 4-ton, R.B. L.;
two 9-pr; two Nordenfelts,
17
Military expenditure
2,707,135
5
Gannet, 400 tons, Steam Tug
One 6-inch 1-ton R.B.L.; two Gatlings
23
Naval expenditure -
727,752
G
Batman, 400 tons, Harbour Trust Steamer
++
13
"
two Nordenfelts
25
Combined
3,434,887
7
Fawkner, 400 tons, Harbour Trust Steamer -
"
two Gatlings
25
†Lady Loch, 400 tons, Steel Screw Steamer -
19
11
To which has further to be added:-
9
Childers, 1st Class Torpedo Boat
Arms, ammunition, and stores for defences generally, which cannot
be apportioned to particular years -
two Nordenfelts -
Two 15-inch Whitebead Torpedoes; two 14-inch Whitehead Torpedoes; two Hotch- kiss Guns.
25
10
47,408
10
Nepean, 2nd Class Torpedo Boat
Value of land certificates granted to volunteers, including Naval
Brigade, computed at 17. per acre
Two 14-inch Whitehead Torpedoes; two
Spar Torpedoes.
7
139,683
11 Lonsdale, 2nd Class Torpedo Boat
Two 14-inch Whitehead Torpedoes; two
7
Spar Torpedoes.
12
Grand total
3,621,978
13
Gordon, Turn-about Torpedo Launch
Commissioner, Torpedo Launch
Two 14-inch Whitehend Torpedoes; one
Nordenfelt Gun.
*
14
Customs, Torpedo Launch
7
II. The principal Acts of Parliament by which the defence of the Colony has been from time to time provided for are "The Volunteer Statute, 1865," which authorised the organisation of a naval and military volunteer force, the commissioned officers of and above the rank of captain to be appointed by the Governor, and the non-com- missioned and commissioned under the rank of captain on the recommendation of the corps. This Act was amended by "The Volunteer Cadet Act, 1884," which sanctioned the formation of cadet corps of volunteers, and provided that persons occasionally serving in the naval or military forces should not be deemed incapable of sitting in Parliament. In 1870 was passed "The Discipline Act, 1870," making provision as to the obligations and discipline of the volunteer forces when on duty. This Act also reserves to the Governor the appointment of all commissioned officers, and also of naming or delegating the power of naming warrant and non-commissioned or petty officers. This Act was amended in 1872 by a short Act specially providing for the formation of a naval force of armed vessels to defend the coasts of Victoria, and co-operate in time of war with the ships of the Royal Navy. Finally, these statutes were supplemented and extended by The Discipline Act, 1883," which provided for the establishment of a Ministry and Council of Defence, with authority to direct and control, and if need be, reorganise the local forces. Under it a paid Militia force was raised, and for its purposes a special appropriation of 110,0001. a year was made by Parliament.
#
III. In connexion with the last Act a great development of the military spirit and force, and or the defences of the Colony has taken place. When it was passed the naval force of the Colony consisted of the Cerberus, armour-clad turret-ship, armed with four 18-ton M.L.R. guns, and the Nelson, wooden steam frigate, carrying twenty 64-pr. M.L.R., two 7-inch 68-pr. M.L.R,, and eight 32-pr. smooth-bore guns. the four years which have since elapsed its strength has been raised to 14 armed vessels of various denominations, whose names, character, armament, and complement of officers and men are given in the following table:-
Within
• To be armed with 6-inch gun aft.
Two 14-inch Whitehead Torpedoes; one 7
Nordenfelt Gun.
Two 14-inch Whitehead Torpedoes; one
Nordenfelt Gun.
Lately launched; armament in the Colony.
These vessels are manned, in the first place, by a permanent force of 206 men, who are supplemented by a Volunteer Naval Brigade of 376 men, making in all a body of 582 disciplined sailors.
Both the permanent force and Naval Brigade are constantly and systematically exercised. Much attention is given to experimental torpedo practice from the torpedo boats. In addition to the ordinary drills required by the regulations, both permanent force and Naval Brigade are constantly exercised together.
The men of
the Naval Brigade now undergo, in batches of 60 to 70, a regular course of three weeks' drill, in turn. They are familiarised beforehand with the officers and men, with whom, and the ship in which, they may be called upon to serve. Torpedo stores have been built, air-compressing engines and boilers have been placed in position, and all the necessary arrangements have been made for laying three complete submarine mine fields, so as to protect the main channels leading to the port.
IV. The naval commandant is Captain Alan B. Thomas, R.N., who was appointed on the recommendation of the Admiralty in 1883. The officer next in rank is Commander Collins (retired R.N.). The torpedo instructor is Lieutenant the Honour- able P. M. Hely-Hutchinson, R.N., who was also appointed on the nomination of the Admiralty at the same time with Captain Thomas.
V. The military commandant, appointed also in 1883, on the recommendation of the War Office, is Colonel Disney, R.A. At the same time were nominated Lieutenant- Colonel H. S. Brownrigg and Major P. T. Fellowes, Staff Officers of Infantry, and Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, R.A., and Captain Ind, R.A., Staff Officers of Artillery. Major Rhodes, R.E., has since been appointed as principal military engineer, having special charge of torpedo and submarine mine work.
A 61481.
3 H
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