PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
46
unable to compete on a footing of equality with those which are in course of introduction by foreign Governments as well as by our own.
The Commission would therefore recommend, with regard to artillery, that it should be suggested to the various Colonial Governments that they will find it for their conve- nience and advantage, before proceeding to the construction or purchase of any guns, to communicate with the Home Government, so that the War Office may have an oppor- tunity of suggesting any changes of detail which may tend to bring about the desired uniformity, and at the same time-secure for the Colonies the most approved description of. ordnance.
With regard to small arms and other kinds of warlike stores, as in the previous case, they recommend that the Colonial Governments should adopt the patterns in use in the Imperial service, unless for some well-matured and decided reasons they advisedly adopt another pattern; in which case they should inform the Government of the fact, and of the reasons which have led to the selection of the exceptional pattern; so that the Home Government may, if it be an improvement, consider the advisability of adopting it, or explain the reasons which militate against its adoption; or make representations which might induce the Colonies to reconsider their decision.
They would also suggest that each of the Colonies should be furnished with a com- plete set of the War Office vocabularies and priced lists of all warlike stores, together with copies of all Circulars which are issued embodying approved changes therein. When these Circulars have been registered for information in the Colonies, which it is desirable should be done by that Department in each Colony which is responsible for advising on these subjects, the various Governments will be in a position to order all supplies of warlike stores of the most approved patterns.
Should they decide upon obtaining their supplies from the trade, for which the Com- mission understand there are great facilities, it would be desirable that the War Department should continue to render every assistance, to insure the supply of stores of the best quality, and uniform in pattern with those in use in Her Majesty's service.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HERBERT JEKYLL.
47
received from the Premier, informing me that a sum of 9.0007. having been placed upon the Estimates and voted by Parliament for the formation of the earthworks proposed by Colonel Scratchley, the Government contemplate so applying this amount as soon as the plans are received from Colonel Scratchley.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 81.
Memorandum for his Excellency,
HERCULES ROBINSON.
YOUR Excellency has already forwarded to the Secretary of State copies of Colonel Scratchley's Report, stating that, generally, Ministers concur in the recommendations I have deferred a further reply which it contains as to the defences of New Zealand.
until the F'stimates had been voted by Parliament. This has now been done, and they contain a vote of 9,000l., the greater part of which is available for the formation of the earthworks proposed by Colonel Scratchley, and which the Government contemplate so applying when the plans are received from Colonel Scratchley. The existing financial condition of the Colony renders it impracticable to incur the whole of the expenditure which the completion of these works would involve.
Wellington, September 1, 1880.
Sir,
No. 82.
(Signed)
JOHN HALL.
C.O.
Reference :-
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
No. 80.
The Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
Sir,
13, Delahay Street, October 15, 1880. WITH reference to your letters of the 14th February, 3rd March,* 30th March,† and 23rd April, 1880,‡ on the subject of the proposed construction of a line of telegraph to Mauritius, I am directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to inform you that, although they are of opinion that telegraphic communication with Mauritius would be of undoubted value as regards colonial and com- mercial interests, not less than as regards the defence of those interests in time of war, they do not consider that there is sufficient justification at present for the large subsidy which would be required from the Imperial Governinent to enable the extension to be carried out.
Should Her Majesty's Government think it desirable to construct, or to contribute to the cost of constructing, lines of telegraph for defensive purposes, the Commission think such funds as may be available would be better applied to a line of greater importance, such as that by means of which it was recently proposed to connect Bermuda with Halifax and the West Indies.
I have, &c. (Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
No. 81.
October 22.)
Governor Sir H. Robinson, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received
(Secret.) My Lord,
Government House, Wellington, September 2, 1880. REFERRING further to despatches marked "Confidential" of the 9th March and 17th April, 1880,§ I have now the honour to forward a Memorandum which I have
Nos. 126 and 150 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
No. 209 of "Miscellaneous No. 39."
+ Not printed.
§ Nos. 2 and 18.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, October 23, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 31st July last, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Childers, a copy of a lettert from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad with reference to the desirability of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and Colonial services. Lord Kimberley would propose, with the concurrence of Mr. Childers, to transmit to the Colonies possessing Parliamentary Governments a copy of the inclosed letter, together with copies of your letters of the 19th July, 1880,‡ and 24th July, 1878,§ and a copy of the letter from this Department of the 31st July already referred to, except the last paragraph; but before doing so his Lordship would be glad to be informed whether Mr. Childers can furnish, for the use of the Colonies, complete sets of the War Office vocabularies and priced lists of warlike stores referred to in the last paragraph but one of the accompanying letter.
I am, &c.
EDWARD WINGFIELD.
Sir,
(Signed)
No. 83.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, October 25, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that a question has been raised by Lieutenant-General Leicester Smyth as to the command of the colonial troops in Cape Colony in the event of its being found necessary to assist them with Imperial troups.
After the stringent instructions which have been issued that Imperial troops should not be employed in suppressing the Basuto rising, Mr. Childers does not think it necessary to contemplate the possibility of their employment on that service, but he thinks it might be desirable to settle some general rule on the subject applicable to all Colonies, in order to prevent the evil consequences resulting from a divided military command, which were so apparent and led to so much difficulty in the Transkei war.
He would suggest, for Lord Kimberley's consideration, that the rule should be that
+ No. 79.
¡No Grinted.
* No. 44.
* No. 40.
47
m the Premier, informing me that a sum of 9.000Z. having been placed upon es and voted by Parliament for the formation of the earthworks proposed by atchley, the Government contemplate so applying this amount as soon as the ceived from Colonel Scratchley.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERCULES ROBINSON.
Inclosure in No. 81.
Memorandum for his Excellency.
Excellency has already forwarded to the Secretary of State copies of Colonel Report, stating that, generally, Ministers concur in the recommendations ntains as to the defences of New Zealand. I have deferred a further reply stimates had been voted by Parliament. This has now been done, and they ɔte of 9,000, the greater part of which is available for the formation of the
proposed by Colonel Scratchley, and which the Government contemplate so en the plans are received from Colonel Scratchley. The existing financial f the Colony renders it impracticable to incur the whole of the expenditure ompletion of these works would involve.
gton, September 1, 1880.
(Signed)
JOHN HALL.
No. 82.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, October 23, 1880.
I reference to the letter from this Department of the 31st July last,* I am the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary copy of a lettert from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British and Commerce Abroad with reference to the desirability of securing of armaments in the Imperial and Colonial services. Lord Kimberley would th the concurrence of Mr. Childers, to transmit to the Colonies possessing ary Governments a copy of the inclosed letter, together with copies of your he 19th July, 1880, and 24th July, 1878,§ and a copy of the letter from this t of the 31st July* already referred to, except the last paragraph; but before is Lordship would be glad to be informed whether Mr. Childers can furnish,
of the Colonies, complete sets of the War Office vocabularies and priced lists stores referred to in the last paragraph but one of the accompanying letter.
am,
&c.
(Signed)
EDWARD WINGFIELD.
لسنس
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
COPYRIGHT
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
No. 83.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, October 25, 1880.
directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that a question raised by Lieutenant-General Leicester Smyth as to the command of the oops in Cape Colony in the event of its being found necessary to assist them ial troups.
the stringent instructions which have been issued that Imperial troops should ployed in suppressing the Basuto rising, Mr. Childers does not think it necessary ›late the possibility of their employment on that service, but he thinks it might e to settle some general rule on the subject applicable to all Colonies, in order the evil consequences resulting from a divided military command, which were t and led to so much difficulty in the Transkei war.
ould suggest, for Lord Kimberley's consideration, that the rule should be that
‡ No. 40.
§ No' Grinted.
* No. 44.
+ No. 79.
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