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No. 97.

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

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, May 14, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Colonial Defence Committee, a paraphrase of a telegram from the Governor-General of Canada,* furnishing the information asked for in your letter of the 10th instant, respecting the number of local forces and the number and calibre of guns at certain places within the Dominion.

&c.

I am,

R. H. MEADE.

(Signed)

No. 98.

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

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

Downing Street, May 14, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee, a copy of a letter from Mr. Ussher, the Governor of Labuan,† who is at present in this country, with reference to the position, capabilities, and defence of Labuan; and I am to request that the Committee will favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with any observations or recommendations which they may have to make on the inclosed letter.

No. 99.

I am, &c. (Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

Sir H. Barkly to Mr. Meade.

My dear Sir,

May 15, 1878. THE Committee was obliged to adjourn early yesterday, before the letter as to Newfoundland arrived. We shall have it before us to-morrow, but I foresee reluctance to going beyond the terms of the reference.

As regards King George's Sound, Mr. Bayley was the Managing Director of the Peninsular and Oriental Company whom I saw on the subject, and who informed me that they only had 3,000 tons of coal there, and did not care to call.

Sir A. Milne, I may mention, is strongly in favour of a small steamer being sent out from Freemantle monthly, to meet the mail steamer to and from Galle, and convey the Western Australian mails. I have my doubts as to how this would work, but it might be well to inquire of the Post Office, and let the Western Australian Government have the option of making such an arrangement.

I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY BARKLY.

No. 100.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor-General the Earl of Dufferin.

(Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)

Downing Street, May 15, 1878.

I HAVE received your telegram of the 11th instant, and from the first sentence I understand that it is not considered necessary by you to send forces from any other part of Canada to Esquimalt. If there is any prospect of war becoming imminent, immediate information will be conveyed to you.

* No. 93.

A

+ No. 73.

No. 88.

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