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3. The Committee is an informal one composed of officers designated by the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Colonel Office, and it is not desirable that public attention should be drawn to their proceedings.

4. If you are willing to give the Committee the benefit of your experience, Sir Michael Hicks Beach will be glad if you will be good enough to attend at its next meeting, which will be held at the Horse Guards, Whitehall, on Thursday next, at 2 P.M.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 30.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

7, Westminster Chambers, S. W., April 3, 1878. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date,* on the subject of measures to be taken for the defence of Her Majesty's Colonial ports, and have to request that you will inform Sir Michael Hicks Beach that, in compliance with his desire, I will attend the Committee appointed to consider the question to-morrow, at 2 P.M.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

JULIUS VOGEL, Agent-General for New Zealand.

No. 31.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir W. C. F. Robinson, K.C.M.G.

(Telegraphic.) (Secret.)

Downing Street, April 8, 1878. April 6.-Ten 6-ton guns for temporary defence will be shipped in about four weeks.

Instructions for necessary works will be duly furnished. Meantime consult, as you propose, naval and military officers as to defensive measures at your immediate disposal.

No. 32.

Governor Sir H. F. B. Maxse, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.

(Received April 9.) (Confidential.) Sir,

Heligoland, March 31, 1878. WITH reference to a telegram in cypher which I had the honour to dispatch to you this day, I beg respectfully to draw your attention to the fact that if the reserves are called out, by which proceeding, as I understand, the coast-guard officers and men are at once told off by the Admiralty to different vessels or stations, the effect of such orders bere would be very disastrous, depriving this island as it would of its sole force, executive and defensive.

2. I should wish, Sir, more particularly to recall under what circumstances the present chief officer of coast-guard, Mr. Mains, who holds at the same time the office of stipendiary magistrate and wreck receiver, was by the kind support of the Secretary of State reappointed to this Colony, and I would beg, Sir, earnestly to request that Mr. Mains, who is so thoroughly acquainted with the island and its inhabitants, be not removed from Heligoland at the present moment.

3. This leads me again, Sir, to place before you the state of defence of this island. We have, thanks to the exertions of the Colonial Office, three 40-pounder and two 12-pounder Armstrongs.

A return of these guns, together with the ammunition, &c., appertaining to them, was forwarded lately, by instruction of the Secretary of State, for the information of the War Office.

• No. 29.

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