CO885-5 — Page 417

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REMARKS ON ORGANISATION, RECRUITING, &c.

There are no military works whatever in Western Australia, though some are urgently needed, not merely for the safety of the Colony, but also for the protection of British interests in these seas.

Princess Royal Harbour requires a comprehensive scheme of defence to prevent its falling the hands of an enemy in the event of war occurring. At present it is totally undefended.

.)

The military posts are Perth, Fremantle, Guildford, Geraldton, Albany, and Northampton. At each of these places there is one company of rifle volunteers, with the exception of Perth and Fremantle, where there are two companies. There is one division of a battery of field artillery (two Armstrong 12-pounder field guns) at the former station, and at the latter there is one division of a battery of naval artillery (two old 6-pounder field guns of obsolete pattern). None of these are under the control of the Ordnance Department in England.

The troops are purely volunteers, drawing merely a capitation grant of 1/. 10s. per effective, a small allowance for the maintenance of bands and corps drill instructors, and a sum of 110 annually for prizes for rifle contests. The paid staff consists of a commandant on a salary of 500l. per annum, and 100/. travelling allowance, and an adjutant on a salary of 150/. per annum, and 507. travelling allowance.

There are no "days training" in this force. Twelve parades per annum for an effective, and the expenditure of 60 rounds of ball ammunition at target practice, entitles to capitation grant. Inspections and field days are included in this number, but not recruit drills.

B.

ANNUAL RETURN of ORDNANCE, ARMS, AMMUNITION, &c.* in HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS, for the year ending 31st December 1886.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Number.

Pattern.

Remarks.

2

Guns, other than those accounted

for in Return A.

12-pounder Armstrong Field

Guns, R.B.L.

With limbers; no waggons.

2

6-pounder S.B. Field Guns,

Without limbers or waggons.

obsolete.

Rounds of Gun Ammunition

303

Full, Service, 1 lbs.

-

812

484

Stand of Arms

316

142, 224

Rounds of S.A. Ammunition Torpedoes Pontoons

109, 680

Exercise, I lb.

Martini-Henry.

Snider.

Martini Henry. Snider.

For 12-pounder R.L.L.

guns.

Nil. Nil.

• Exclusive of those accounted for to the Military Departments in England,

No. 87.

MEMORANDUM ON THE DEFENCES OF NATAL, BY MR. ROBINSON,

DELEGATE FOR NATAL.

In connexion with the general question of Imperial and Colonial defence about to be considered by the Conference, I desire to place ou record a brief statement of facts as regards the Colony of Natal.

Natal is one of the very few British Colonies that have during the last quarter of a century, or indeed at any time, undergone the actual rigours of war. people of the Colony, whether white or black, are pre-eminently peaceful and loyal, For though the circumstances on two occasions have exposed them, incidentally, to the effects of sanguinary strife waged on their immediate borders.

Natal is also the most advanced outpost of British dominion in South-east Africa. She lies nearer to the possessions of Portugal and France in the Eastern Seas than any other

A 31481.

3 I

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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