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121

Inclosure 20 in No. 224.

SCHEDULE of Estimates showing probable Cost of carrying out the Work recommended by the Defence Committee.

Repairs to gun platforms and carriages of 68-pounder guns, and making

wooden compressors, also repairs to platform carriages of 8-inch guns. Repairs to battery and buildings at Mount Palmer, and erection of small

cook-house

Dols. c.

Repairs to battery, Mount Faber

Total

1,728 37

1,144 95

597 00

3,470 32

..

475 83

2,994 49

J. F. A. McNAIR, Colonial Engineer.

Deduct repairs to 8-inch gun carriages, not immediately required, and com-

pressors for the same

Total amount of estimate for which sanction is required

(Signed)

Colonial Engineer's Office, May 8, 1878.

Approved,

(Signed) May 8, 1878.

WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.

No. 225.

(Secret.) My Lord,

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Earl of Dufferin.

Downing Street, July 8, 1878. I HAVE received and carefully considered your Lordship's telegram of the 4th, and your Confidential despatch of the 8th ultimo,* on the question of the provision of a fleet of fast armed cruizers for the protection of Canadian shipping. I lost no time in referring this important question to the Board of Admiralty, and I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a correspondence with that Department on the subject.† Her Majesty's Government do not, as you may infer from the third paragraph of the letter from the Admiralty, propose to take any overt action under the arrangements referred to in the preceding paragraph, unless matters should advance so far as to preclude the hope of the maintenance of peace.

2. I need scarcely observe that should this country be unfortunately involved in war, Her Majesty's ships would, of course, use their best endeavours to protect the carrying trade of the Empire. But it is difficult to exaggerate the mischief that might be caused were only one or two hostile cruizers of the "Alabama" type to get to sea before the actual declaration of war, and if vessels were purchased in American ports it is possible that they might commence their depredations on shipping along the seaboard of the Dominion. It would be of no little service in the prompt suppression of such depredations, and perhaps might even prevent them from being undertaken on any large scale, if steps could be taken to place the Dominion Government in a position to co-operate with the Imperial Navy in coping with this danger immediately it occurs, by taking up and arming fast vessels from the mercantile marine with one or two guns of suitable calibre.

3. The naval authorities on the spot might be consulted as to the kind of gun which would be best adapted for vessels of this class, of which guns it would seem prudent to keep a few in store ready for future use.

4. I request that you will invite the careful attention of your Ministers to this subject, which appears to me to be of great importance, not only in view of the present unsettled condition of European affairs, but with reference to any contingencies which may arise in the future.

In connection with it I would suggest that they should consider the expediency of passing an Act through the Dominion Legislature, if this has not been already done, in pursuance of the third section of the "Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865," of which I annex a copy.

I have, &c.

(Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.

* No. 165.

[793]

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Nos. 139 and 166.

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