CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3] — Page 142

4.

Referring to your telegram of the 2nd January, new guns are being provided at the cost of more than eighty thousand pounds sterling (£80,000)." It will be remembered that this is more than double the cost (viz. £37,500) of the guns originally proposed for the new Forts at Hongkong.

With regard to the terms of the Honourable Gentleman's

ques- tion, I am unable to say, if "the Funds of the Colony are at prosent "being spent upon the construction of a Fort in the Limun Pass." I have ascertained that the military works here are being carried out under the immediate direction of the War Office in England, and that it is not known as yet whether the cost of the battery at the Limun Pass, which will not exceed one thousand pounds sterling (£1,000),will be set down to Imperial Funds, or to the Colonial con- tribution. Of course, if it is so desired, I will forward the question of

my Honourable Friend to the Secretary of State.

With respect to the other points of the Honourable Gentleman's question, I am informed that heavy ordnance will probably be mount- ed at the Limun Pass so soon as it can be procured; but that the primary object of the new work there is to protect the Submarine mine-field against the attack of armed boats and steam-launches; and that for this purpose lighter and rapidly firing guns are indispensable; such as breech-loading 40-pounder guns, which the Military author- ities declare are not obsolete, or ineffective.

In

my despatch W:3 referred to

above, I drew attention to the strong feeling prevalent in this community on the subject of the armament to be provided for the new-Defence Works.

I have the honour to be,

•My Lord,

Your Lordship's Most Obedient Thimble obervant,

S

Bowen

DRAFT.

Luft Bowen 2057

no 5

MINUTE. / Ma

Mr. John 16 Mr. De Robeck 14

Mr. Wingfield.

Mr. Bramston.

Mr. Meade.

Sir R. Herbert.

Mr. Ashley.

Lord Derby,

2 Draft

Sun,

49 Hey

4079

14

140

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I have the honour to

achi

the rec! of your deep.

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2.49 of the 315th of Jan

the object of

Defences of the

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Colony, & to inform zur

that it has been

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Communicated to the

Secretary of State for War.

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