CO129-114 - MacDonnell - 1866 [7-8] — Page 421

of the Governor

should come

within the conditions defined in the Dr. Leet of the Naval Defence

Bet.

On the 25 Jan, the Admiralty

stated that their Lordships were of the opinion that the Employment of Gunboats under the Col defence act

suggested would not be under authority, so divided that in

practice it would not work

well

that the Gunboats should

be wholly at the disposal

of the

Admiral

or

wholly under the Orders of the Governor (the latter alternative being exactly what

was beyond the 3 miles would be important

and

this Dept. wished to prevent,

for which the Col defence Act

was relieved

from dis) - Their Lordships

would therefore desire Admiral King

to commission two more Gunboats for the suppression of piracy

if he had any

in reserve

fit for

the

service

and would defer

consideration of the question of

Colonial Armed Steamer

until the Government of Hong Kong

made

some further proposal on the Subject.

On the 14 April, Sir

N. I1⁄2 having had this correspondence referred to him,

said

that as the financial condition of the Colony

was

critical

he could not recommend

to the Council that the Colony

should defray

the cost of 2

Gunboats - although it would

be "most wise

that if

a useful Expenditure

were undertaken

it must