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Kong, and he is, therefore, of opinion that the loan of arms and accoutrements for the equipment of the volunteer force there is very necessary.

2. A copy of your letter will, however, be transmitted to Governor Hennessy for any observations which he may have to offer on the subject.

I am, &c.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

(Signed)

No. 293.

Colonial Office to War Office,

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 16, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 3rd instant,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you a copy of a further letter from the Agent- General for New Zealand+ relative to the supply of the guns for that Colony, and I am to request that you will move Secretary Colonel Stanley to give instructions that the armament originally ordered for New Zealand, and referred to in the letter from this Department of the 27th May, may be proceeded with with the least delay possible.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

(Confidential.) Sir,

No. 294.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Admiralty, August 17, 1878.

I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Colonial Afiairs, a copy of a letter from Com- modore Sullivan dated the 15th ultimo, respecting the defences of Simon's Town.

2. A copy of this despatch has sent to the War Office.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Sir,

Inclosure in No. 294.

Defences of Simon's Town.

"Active," in Simon's Bay, July 15, 1878.

I REQUEST you will inform their Lordships that Lieutenant-General the Honour- able F. A. Thesiger, C.B., accompanied by Colonel Hassard, C.B., Commanding Royal Engineers, came to Simon's Bay during the past week and looked into the defences of the place.

2. It was determined to at once mount three 7-inch guns in the North Battery, which is now sufficiently advanced to receive them, and as soon as the small amount of work remaining to be done is completed to take the battery at south point in hand; by a small amount of labour the old battery can be adapted to receive two 7-inch guns in a short time and at a small expense; this I understand is to be done at once.

3. The 64-pounders in the temporary battery constructed last summer will be replaced by 7-inch guns.

4. The General informed me that he considered there would be no advantage in erecting fortified posts on the heights above Simon's Town or overlooking the different possible landing-places, as they could always be easily avoided, and would thus add in no way to the power of the defence. The ground is naturally so strong as to give an immense initial advantage to a defending force, and any advance towards Simon's Town from the coast could be opposed not only by force from that place, but also by a force from Cape Town moving on their left flank or rear by the Fish-Hook Bay, Chapman's Bay Road; but he proposed that a system of telegraphs should be established from the western side of the Peninsula to Simon's Bay in order that troops might be sent to any particular spot threatened.

* No. 269.

† No. 283.

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