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No. 317.

Colonial Office to Agent-General for New Zealand.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 31, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 12th instant,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office stating the time at which the original order for guns for your Government will be completed, and the date at which the guns, &c., will be ready for shipment, and suggesting that you should communicate direct with the Commissary-General at Woolwich as to the shipment of the armament.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 318.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, August 31, 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 the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee upon the despatches from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, inclosing correspondence showing the steps taken for the defence of the Colony, copies of which were transmitted to you in the Secret and Confidential letters from this Department of the 31st July and 22nd instant.

2. If Colonel Stanley concurs in the recommendations of the Committee, that no departure from the arrangements already sanctioned should be permitted, and that none of the guns destined for Hong Kong should be diverted for other purposes, I am to suggest that the necessary instructions should be conveyed to the military authorities in the Colony.

3. I am to add that a copy of the report and of this letter will be transmitted to the Governor for his information.

&c.

I am,

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 319.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach to the Officer administering the Government of South Australia.

(Secret.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 31, 1878. WITH reference to your despatch No. 26 of the 12th June last, § I have the honour to transmit to you copies of letters from the War Office and Admiralty, together with the publications therein referred to relating to torpedoes. ||

2. I have to request that you will be good enough to acknowledge the receipt of these documents in a Secret despatch, and I take this opportunity of pointing out that your despatch above referred to, and also your despatch No. 25, to which you referred, relating to the defences of the Colony, should have been marked Secret, and should not be allowed to remain with the public despatches of the Colony.

3. I rely on your assurance that the inclosed publications will be treated as con- fidential, and security taken that they will be used only by the officers intrusted with the charge of the torpedo defences.

I have, &c. (Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

* No, 283.

† No. 311.

‡ No. 312.

$ No. 255.

Nos. 306 and 307.

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