CAB7-1 — Page 249

Page 249

57

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 127.

Ottawa, May 6, 1878.

REFERRING to despatch Secret from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 18th March, 1878, inclosing copy of a letter from the Admiralty of the 14th March, 1878, relative to the defences of British Columbia and the loan of four guns and ammunition now in store at Victoria to the local artillery corps, I am directed by the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence to transmit to you copy of two letters from the General Officer commanding the Militia, and one from Colonel G. Blair, R. F. P. Royal Artillery, showing the defenceless situation of the coast of British Columbia, and the great necessity that exists for the arming of the McAulay Point, to protect the town and harbour of Victoria.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

CHAS. E. PANET, J.P., Deputy-Minister of Militia and Defence.

The Governor-General's Secretary.

Inclosure 2 in No. 127.

%

Sir.

Ottawa, December 9, 1875.

I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice that upon my recent tour of inspection at Vancouver Island, I went at the request of the Admiral, the Honourable Arthur Cochrane, to visit the dockyard at Esquimalt, and there, amongst other obsolete naval ordnance, I found two 7-inch and four 40-pounder breech-loading Armstrong guns.

It was the intention of the naval authorities to send these guns back to England, but I requested this might be deferred in regard to these six rifled guns, which would be extremely valuable to be placed upon a battery I propose should be constructed on McAulay Point, a promontory projecting between the harbours of Esquimalt and Victoria.

As, in the absence of a man-of-war, there is no battery in existence to protect the approaches of the dockyard, containing many thousand pounds' worth of valuable naval stores, nor for the harbour and town of Victoria, I am strongly of opinion that a battery should be placed on the point indicated.

I, therefore, request authority may be obtained from the Imperial Government to have these guns

with their shot and shell handed over to the Dominion Government, and, under the circumstances, free of charge.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

E. SELBY SMYTH, Major-General.

The Hon. the Minister of Militia and Defence,

Ottawa.

Inclosure 3 in No. 127.

Sir,

Ottawa, May 21, 1877.

I HAVE the honour to refer to my letter to you, dated 9th December, 1875, to which I have received no reply.

I have plans of the proposed earthwork for McAulay Point already prepared, and

I submit them, together with a report, herewith.

The approximate estimate is only 600 dollars.

The guns alluded to in my letter are, I presume, still in Her Majesty's dockyard at Esquimalt, and I conceive there would be no obstacle to procuring them.

I trust that the question may be favourably considered.

I have, &c.

(Signed) E. SELBY SMYTH, Major-General. The Hon. the Minister of Militia and Defence,

Ottawa.

Page 249

Page 249

Page 249

Page 249