CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9] — Page 368

regulations have been found, in practice, most convenient for that purpuse in this country.

object

I am sure I need not enlarge upon the importance of the which Parliament has had in view in passing this enactment, and I trust that your advisers will fully appreciate the advantages which will result from its adoption by the Colony under

Government.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

your

(Mr. Romaine to Sir Frederic Rogers.)

Admiralty, 10th May, 1865.

Sir,

IN reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, stating that the Colonial Naval Defence Act has received the Royal Assent, and requesting to be informed what my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would require in regard to Colonial Ships of War, I am commanded by my Lords to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Cardwell, that they will require, in order that the Flag of a Colonial Vessel of War may be recognized as a lawful crnizer, that she should be commanded by a properly Commissioned Officer.

To facilitate compliance with this requirement, my Lords will send to the Senior Officer ou the various stations, blank forms of Commissions and Warrants signed by their Lordships and their Secretary, in which the names of such Commissioned, Warrant, or other Officers of the Royal Navy, selected to command or serve as such Officers in the Royal Naval Reserve, or in ship or ships of the Colony, may be inserted.

My Lords will, if desired, select from among such Officers as may volun- teer for the service, those whom they deem fit for these special duties, and who can be spared for a time from service in Her Majesty's ships.

In order to obviate any difficulty in bringing the Act into operation, my Lords will, under the 8th Clause of the "Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865," authorize the Senior Officer of any station to exercise in their name and behalf those powers exerciseable by the Admiralty, which it may from time to time scem desirable to delegate.

My Lords will, when Mr. Cardwell wishes it, give authority to Senior Officers to fill up blank Commissions and Warrants, sent to them by their Lordships, with the names of persons duly qualified to be Officers, who may be nominated by the Authorities of a Colony, and who are not actively engaged in Her Majesty's Service.

They will further authorize them, if called upon by the proper Authorities, to give an Acting Order to an Officer of the Royal Navy, who may volunteer from any of Her Majesty's ships returning to England, and whose services can be spared, or to a properly qualified Officer who may be found ready to serve, in order that there may be no delay in fitting out a vessel or in replacing an Officer in command, who may die or be removed from the Service.

My Lords would suggest, that Colonial Governments should be warned to give the longest notice in their power of their desire for the appointments of Officers of any rank to serve in the Royal Naval Reserve, or on board any Colonial man-of-war.

Any vessel of war fitted out by a Colony, and commanded by a properly Commissioned Officer of the Royal Navy, should wear a Union Jack in the usual place, and the White Ensign, with either the Arms of the Colony, or such other distinguishing mark as may be chosen by the Colony, and approved by the Colonial Office and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

My Lords send herewith a Copy of a Form of Appointment of an Officer to command, altered as they propose to use it, under the 5th Clause of the 3rd section of the Act, also Copy of the Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

They propose to appoint Officers for periods of five years, during which time, unless in case of great emergency, they will not be called upon to serve in the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

When any Officer receives a Commission or Warrant, he should also receive a Copy of the Statute, 28 Vic., cap. 14, the "Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865."

My Lords send Copies of the Commissions and Warrants for Rank in use in the Royal Navy, which can easily be altered to suit the purposes of the Royal Colonial Navy, and the Form of which my Lords suggest should be retained as nearly as may be found convenient.

My Lords would suggest to Mr. Cardwell, that whenever the privileges created by this Act, are actually conferred upon any Colony, due notification should be made to other Maritime Powers, informing them of the mode in which such Colonial vessel will be commanded, and acquainting them with the Flag which will be worn by the said Colony, and that my Lords have accorded to such war vessels of the Colony, in question, the status and rights of a vessel of war of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

I

(Signed)

am,

&c. W. G. ROMAINE.

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