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158

No. 286.

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

(Secret.) My Lord,

Downing Street, August 14, 1878. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, Confidential, of the 26th June,* I have the honour to acquaint you that I have been in communication with the Board of Admiralty respecting the supply of ammunition from the Naval Stores at Esquimalt, and I learn that, owing to a recent increase in the reserves of ammunition, &c., to be maintained at Esquimalt for Her Majesty's ships, the mangazine space at that depôt is barely sufficient for the requirements of Her Majesty's naval service.

2. In these circumstances I would suggest, for the consideration of your Ministers, whether it would not be desirable to adopt the suggestion of the Adjutant-General of the Dominion Militia contained in the second inclosure to your Lordship's despatch, and to erect a magazine and lay in a store of ammunition.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 287.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Marquis of Normanby.

(Secret and Confidential.) My Lord,

Downing Street, August 15, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 24 of the 22nd June,† on the subject of my cypher telegram of the 28th May, relating to the defence of New Zealand.

2. I have to point out that it was intended to offer the services of an Engineer Officer from this country, it being unlikely that the services of one could be spared from New South Wales, and if an officer is sent from England he would have the advantage of personal communication with the Inspector-General of Fortifications, who is a member of the Colonial Defence Committee.

3. Although happily the threatened war has been averted, I hope your Government will not relax their exertions to place the Colony on a sound footing in regard to the defence of its principal ports.

4. The despatch now acknowledged having referred to a cypher telegram should not have been numbered but should have been marked Confidential, and I request that your Lordship will be good enough to cause it to be removed from amongst the public despatches of the Colony.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 288.

War Office to Colonial Office.

(Confidential.) Sir,

War Office, August 16, 1878.

I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st July, 1878, forwarding copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, inclosing correspondence showing the steps taken by him for the temporary defence of Singapore, and to state that Secretary Colonel Stanley learns with satisfaction that the Colonial authorities were alive to the necessity of taking measures for the defence of the harbour and roadstead of Singapore, and that they were making use of the limited means at their disposal for that puspose; but as these measures were taken previous to the receipt of the instructions and authority for expenditure sent out from this Office on the 18th April last, which must have arrived at Singapore soon after the despatch of the Governor dated 23rd May was written, Secretary Colonel Stanley proposes to defer taking any further steps until the action taken upon those instructions is known.

* No. 208.

† No. 272.

BURY.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

‡ No. 259.

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