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(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

20

No. 42.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, April 17, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, two copies of a letter from the Colonial Defence Committee inclosing the Report which they have completed on the temporary defences of the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, and Hong Kong.*

2. I am also to inclose a copy of a further lettert from the Committee, stating that they have since become aware of the existence at Hong Kong of the guns therein men- tioned, and recommending that the temporary loan of the 7-inch and 64-pounder guns should be obtained from their Lordships, pending their replacement by the destined arma- ment, or until they are required for Her Majesty's ships.

3. Sir Michael Hicks Beach would recommend compliance with this suggestion, and in order to save time he would be glad if the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would be good enough, when replying to this letter, to notify their decision to the War Office, in order that the Secretary of State for War may take the necessary steps for mounting these guns.

4. I am to add that Sir Michael Hicks Beach has under his consideration the Committee's Report of the 4th instant.*

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 43.

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

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, April 17, 1878. WITH reference to my letter of the 12th March,‡ I am requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that in that letter, which was written at the commencement of their inquiry, they over- estimated the number of guns that will be required for the temporary defence of the more important Colonial ports.

The Australian Colonies having provided for their own defence, it will not be necessary to send out guns to them, as the Committee had at first expected.

The general result of their recommendations, therefore, with respect to guns, is

7-ton guns

64-pr. rifled guns

Total

•

97

69

166

The War Department have ordered the despatch of thirty-four 6 ton 7-inch guns so that there will remain to be provided.

7-ton guns

64-pr. rifled guns

Total

63

69

132

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

No. 44.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

Admiralty, April 17, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 12th instant§ containing a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Heligoland on the subject of the defence of that island in the event of war, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you,

* Miscellaneous, No. 35.

+ No. 40.

‡ No. 8.

§ No. 39.

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