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No. 313.

Administrator Way to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Received

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

August 27.)

Government House, Adelaide, July 10, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch Secret and Confidential.*

No. 314.

Colonial Office to War Office.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. WAY.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 29, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, stating that the armament for Barbadoes will be ready for shipment in October next.

2. As you are aware, the general question of apportionment of cost between the Colonies and the mother country has been referred for the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee, and the matter has also engaged the attention of the War Office. As, however, the time is rapidly approaching when the guns will be ready for shipment, it seems desirable that the apportionment of the expense in this case should at once be decided; I am, therefore, to request to be informed whether Secretary Colonel Stanley would consider it fair to charge the cost of the guns, &c., estimated at 6,4007., to Imperial funds if the Colony will pay for the batteries, &c., estimated at 4,800%. It seems a con- venient division to charge the Colony with the local expenditure, together with the cost of maintenance, leaving Imperial funds to provide the armaments necessary for the works. If the Secretary of State for War should concur in this suggestion, Sir Michael Hicks Beach will ask the consent of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and if they concur he will then consult the Colony; but it will not be advisable to send out the guns until this question has been finally settled.

3. I am to draw attention to the inclosed copy of a letter from the Admiralty,‡ and to point out that it is not within the means of the Colony to bear the whole cost of defence; and I am to observe that although the Lords Commissioners express an opinion that the defences of Barbados are not of urgent importance, the Secretary of State for War may be be of a different opinion, having reference to the fact that the Colony is the head-quarters of the military in the West Indies.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 315.

Colonial Defence Committee to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

War Office, August 30, 1878.

I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant,§ transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant- Governor of Natal, inclosing the Report of a local Committee on the defence of Port Natal and Durban.

I am to forward in reply, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the inclosed Report, in which the Committee state their opinion upon this subject.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HENRY BARKLY, Acting President.

* No. 53.

† No. 279.

No. 213.

§ No. 270.

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