CO885-5 — Page 58

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

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

CO. 8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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P.S.—I have shown this despatch to Major-General Murray, C.B., commanding the troops in Mauritius, and that gallant and experienced officer, who has had a long service in various Colonies, authorizes me to state that he agrees with my views on this subject.

G. F. B.

Inclosure in No. 89.

Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Executive Council at a Meeting held on the 14th day of September, 1880.

9. HIS Excellency the Governor laid before the Council a despatch from the Secretary of State of the 30th July ultimo, covering a correspondence respecting the proposed establishment of a volunteer corps in Mauritius.

"It appears that the Home authorities desire that the arms and ammunition required should be purchased by the Colonial Government.

"The Council, after deliberation, advise that it is desirable, in the peculiar circum- stances of this Colony, that the arms and accoutrements of the proposed volunteer corps should in Mauritius, as in England, remain the direct property of the Crown, that they should be kept in the Barracks at Port Louis under the immediate care of the Military Department; and that it would not be advisable to propose to the Council of Government any increase, direct or indirect, of the military contribution now paid by Mauritius."

No. 90.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir F. A. Weld, K.C.M.G.

(Telegraphic.)

Downing Street, November 3, 1880. WITH reference to your despatch of the 22nd September, it will be better for you not to preside, but you should give the Committee the benefit of your views on the question.

No. 91.

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

Sir,

Downing Street, November 4, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 28th June last,† I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Childers, a copy of a despatch‡ from the Governor of New Zealand, accompanied by a Memorandum from the Premier, stating the steps which the Colonial Government are about to take with the view of carrying out Colonel Scratchley's recommendations with respect to the defence of New Zealand.

[§ I am also to transmit to you six additional copies of Colonel Scratchley's Report on the Defences of New Zealand, a copy of which was inclosed in my letter of the 28th June.]

I am, &c. (Signed)

Sir,

No. 92.

Colonial Office to War Office.

R. H. MEADE.

Downing Street, November 4, 1880.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th October with reference to the question of the command of Colonial troops when assisted with Imperial troops, and suggesting that the rule should be that the officer commanding the Imperial troops should invariably have the command of both Imperia! and colonial forces.

|| No. 83.

* No. 87.

+ No. 31.

No. 81.

To Commission only.

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In reply, I am to request that you will state to Mr. Secretary Childers that Lord Kimberley thinks that, as a general rule, the arrangement proposed by the Secretary of State for War would appear to be right in principle, and likely to meet satisfactorily such cases as may ordinarily be expected to arise. His Lordship would, however, suggest that it may deserve consileration whether the rule should not be so framed as to admit of occasional exceptions, as, for example, when the Imperial officer is of considerably junior standing and commands a small number of troops, and there is acting with him, in command of a large colonial force, an officer of much higher standing and experience.

As, however, the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad has proposed to discuss this question, his Lordship thinks it be

may advisable not to come to any conclusion upon it for the present.

I am, &c.

(Signed) ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 93.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. Robinson, G.C.M.G.

(Secret.)

Sir,

Downing Street, November 6, 1880.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Secret, of the 2nd September,* inclosing a Memorandum from your Ministers, stating that a sum of 9,000%. had been placed upon the Estimates and voted by Parliament for the formation of the earthworks proposed by Colonel Scratchley, and that your Government propose to spend the money as soon as the plans are received from Colonel Scratchley, and I have to inform you that copies of your despatch and of its inclosure have been sent to the War Office and to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

I take this opportunity of thanking you for the twelve additional copies of Colonel Scratchley's Report on the defences of New Zealand, which you have forwarded to me in your despatch, Secret, of the 24th August.

Sir,

No. 94.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, November 6, 1880.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th Octobert with reference to the question of the Governor of the Straits Settlements presiding over the local Committee appointed to consider and report upon the defence of Singapore, and I am to request that you will inform Mr. Secretary Childers, that on the receipt of your letter Lord Kimberley telegraphed to the Governor of the Straits Settle- ments to the effect that, if he thought it best, his Lordship would not object to his presiding.

Since then, a despatch‡ has been received from Sir F. A. Weld, of which a copy is inclosed, on the subject of the proposed Committee, and I am to state that in the circum- stances Lord Kimberley has thought it advisable to address a further telegram to the Governor on the 3rd instant,§ to the effect that it will be better for him not to preside, but that he should give the Committee the benefit of his views on the question.

I am, &c.

(Signed) EDWARD WINGFIELD.

* No. 81.

+ Not printed.

‡ No. 87.

§ No. 90.

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