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Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will be so good as to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform their Lordships what is the description of the nine guns mentioned in the inclosure to your letter under reply, observing, with respect to the storage of powder, that owing to a recent increase in the reserves of ammunition, &c., to be maintained at Esquimalt for Her Majesty's ships, the magazine space at that depôt is barely sufficient for the requirements of Her Majesty's naval service.

No. 269.

I am, &c. (Signed)

THOS. WOLLEY.

Sir,

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, August 3, 1878. IN reference to your letter of the 13th ultimo,* forwarding copy of a communication from the Agent-General of New Zealand in regard to the supply of 64-pounder guns for that Colony, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acquaint you, for the informa- tion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that as an uncertainty existed as to the particular description of guns required, inasmuch as two "more converted" 64-pounders were asked for, whereas none had been previously ordered, a semi-official communica- tion was addressed to Sir Julius Vogel on the subject, who has, it is believed, telegraphed to New Zealand for further instructions.

I am to add that in the meantime no steps will be taken in regard to the supply.

No. 270.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

F. A. CAMPBELL.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 6, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal† inclosing a copy of a Report by Colonel Pearson, the officer commanding the troops, and Captain Hime, R.E., the Colonial engineer, to whom as a Sub-Committee of the Executive Council the subject of the defence of the Colony was referred, together with an extract from the Minutes of Council.

2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach will be glad to be favoured with the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee with reference to the inclosed communications, and to be furnished with an estimate of the cost of the two 9-ton guns, ammunition, &c., for which the Executive Council is prepared to recommend a vote, and also a similar estimate of the cost of the 18-ton guns, &c., recommended by the Sub-Committee, together with any other observations which may be of use to the Colonial Government.

(Signed)

I am,

&c.

R. H. MEADE.

No. 271.

Sir,

Colonial Office to War Office.‡

Downing Street, August 6, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch§ from the Acting Governor of South Australia requesting to be supplied with a complete set of the confidential publica- tions issued from the War Office with respect to torpedoes, and also with any future publications on the subject, which it is stated will be treated as confidential, and used only by the officers entrusted with the charge of the torpedo defence.

* No. 256.

† No. 234.

A similar letter was addressed to the Admiralty, with the addition, "in respect of any similar publications issued by the Admiralty.”

§ No. 255.

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