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On taking a general review of the Colonial ports that will require defence, it is clear that at least 200 guns will be required, and a considerable amount of submarine mining stores, in addition to what is being provided.

The Committee have commenced by investigating the manner in which temporary defences could be provided for Simon's and Table Bays at the Cape of Good Hope, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mauritius, and in doing so have reduced their proposals to the least amount consistent with their defence under the present emergency, with a desire also to make use as far as possible of the means which are available, and have to report that these places alone will absorb all, or very nearly all, the available guns; and that even when so protected, they can only be regarded as very imperfectly defended against the attacks of at most two or three unarmoured ships, and in some cases will still be exposed to insult from ships firing at long ranges.

The Committee, under these circumstances, consider it their imperative duty, thus early in the investigation with which they have been confided, and before the close of the financial year, to make known confidentially to the Secretary of State, that whatever may hereafter be the recommendations for sending out the requisite guns and torpedoes for temporary defence, none will be available until they are manufactured or otherwise obtained.

It is submitted, therefore, for the consideration of the Secretary of State, whether some immediate steps should not be taken, either to manufacture, or purchase, if possible, from contractors, the guns and submarine mining stores which will inevitably be required if the ports in the Colonies are to be provided with any defences, whether temporary or permanent.

The Committee desire me to observe that the ports they have already dealt with are among the principal coaling stations of Her Majesty's ships, and therefore involve most important Imperial as well as Colonial interests; for unless these stations are adequately protected, there can be no security that Her Majesty's ships will be able to keep the sea for the protection of the commerce of Great Britain, or to prevent an enemy's fleet from annoying and harassing the Colonies.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

(Confidential.)

No. 9.

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

Dear Mr. Herbert,

Committee Room, Horse Guards, March 12, 1878. FROM what you mentioned last evening, that it was wished to have a report from the Committee "what steps ought to be taken if there was an immediate prospect of war," it appears to the members of the Committee that we ought to have some official (of course confidential) instructions, as the only letter which we have received is to state what defences are required as a temporary measure for the principal Colonial ports. This is so general that I had to write to Mr. Meade to know what was specially wanted, but there was nothing said about the wants or recommendations in case of imme- diate war; so be so good as to let us have a public letter.

No. 10.

Yours very truly, (Signed)

ALEX MILNE.

(Secret.) Sir,

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

Downing Street, March 14, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to thank you for your letter of the 12th instant,* in which, as the President of the Committee appointed to report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, you record the progress made by the Committee at its sittings up to that date.

2. I am to state that Sir Michael Hicks Beach considers it very desirable that he should receive from the Committee, at their earliest convenience, a more detailed statement of the particulars of such guns and torpedoes and other war material as they would recom-

* No. 8.

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