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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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vessel to withdraw from Golfito altogether, as it was a port not opened to commerce. Mr. Dicchman replied that the ships would not remain there much longer, and after a few complimentary phrases the Conference broke up.

(Signed)

R. P. DENNISTOUN, Captain.

[A copy of the preceding papers sent to the Royal Defence Commission, August 17,

1880.]

No. 51.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to President of Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

My Lord,

Downing Street, August 6, 1880.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship the Queen's Commission* appointing the Right Honourable the Earl of Camperdown and Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M.P., to be Commissioners to inquire into the state of the defences of the more important colonial ports and coaling-stations, and to consider the apportionment of the cost of such defences, in the place of the Right Honourable Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, M.P., and Thomas Brassey, Esq., M.P., who have been discharged by Her Majesty from further service as such Commissioners.

2. I also inclose six printed copies of the Commission.

3. I have to request that your Lordship will be good enough to cause the necessary communication to be made to the Earl of Camperdown and to Mr. Whitbread, as in the case of the appointment of Mr. Childers and Mr. Brassey.

4. A copy of the inclosed Commission will be transmitted to the Governors of Colonies with reference to my predecessor's Circular despatch of the 21st October, 1879,† inclosing a copy of the Commission of the 8th September, 1879,‡ appointing your Lordship and the other members of the Commission.

Sir,

I have, &c. (Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

No. 52.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, August 7, 1880. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for War, a copy of a letter§ from the Secretary to the Royal Commis- sion on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, intimating that the Commission has now arrived at a stage of its inquiry at which, in order to be in a position to make specific recommendations, it becomes necessary for it to obtain information in greater detail than it has at present received respecting the different places which have come prominently under its notice, and stating that as most of the information which is required is of a professional and technical character, it appears desirable to the Commission that the Secretary of State for War should, as far as possible, undertake to obtain it.

Lord Kimberley would be glad to be informed if Mr. Secretary Childers can under- take to procure and supply to the Royal Commission the information for which it asks.

am, &c.

R. H. MEADE.

Sir,

No. 53.

(Signed)

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

Downing Street, August 7, 1880.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th July,§ intimating the desire of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to obtain information in greater detail than it has at

• No. 48. + No. 42 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."

§ No. 42.

+ Inclosure in No. 22 of same Paper,

present

35

received respecting the places named in the list which accompanies your letter; und I am to acquaint you that a copy of your letter has been referred for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, with a request that Lord Kimberley may be informed whether Mr. Secretary Childers can undertake to procure and supply the information desired by the Royal Commission.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 54.

Governor Sir W. C. Robinson, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.— (Received August 9.)

(No. 68.) My Lord,

Government House, Perth, June 24, 1880. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your predecessor's despatch, marked General, of the 27th April,* informing me that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do not desire to acquire the property which the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company have decided to dispose of at Albany, and requesting to be informed of the wishes of my Government in the matter.

2. I have the honour to state in reply that we do not consider it desirable to purchase the property in question.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.

No. 55.

Governor Sir W. C. Robinson, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.- (Received August 9.)

(Secret.) My Lord,

Government House, Perth, June 24, 1880. YOUR predecessor's Secret despatch,† with reference to the proposed sale of the coaling plant of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company at Albany, has crossed my Confidential despatch of the 29th May‡ on the same subject. You will observe that the documents to which you direct my attention had not been overlooked by me in considering the subject, and that the decision arrived at by Her Majesty's Government is the one which I ventured to submit for adoption under the impression that a Report from me was expected.

2. In my public,despatch of this date§ I have stated that this Government does not desire to purchase the property in question, and I have so informed the Company's agent at King George's Sound.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

No. 56.

WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.

President of Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. My Lord,

Highclere Castle, Newbury, August 10, 1880. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th August,|| transmitting the Queen's Commission appointing the Right Honourable the Earl of Camperdown and Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M.P., to be Commissioners to inquire into the state of the defences of the more important colonial ports and coaling-stations, in the place of the Right Honourable Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, M.P., and Thomas Brassey, Esq., M.P.

I have caused the necessary communications to be addressed to the Earl of Camper- down and Mr. Whitbread, and have furnished them with copies of the Queen's Commis- sions, dated the 8th September, 1879, and the 2nd August, 1880, respectively.¶

No. 215 of "Miscellaneous No. 89."

1 No. 51.

I have, &c.

(Signed) CARNARVON.

+ No. 214 of same Paper. ↑ No. 37. § No. 54. ¶ Inclosure in No. 22 of Miscellaneous No. 39," and No. 48 of this Paper.

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