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No. 132.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Sir,

Downing Street, May 27, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a correspondence with the Agent-General for New Zealand relative to the armament to be provided for that Colony, and I am to request to be favoured with a reply to the inquiry in the letter from this Office of the 13th instant* when it will be completed. I am to observe that, as has already been pointed out, it is desirable that the guns required for this Colony should be supplied at the very earliest practicable moment, and that Sir Michael Hicks Beach presumes that in deciding not to employ Sir W. Armstrong's works, the Secretary of State for War has fully considered this point.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 133.

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

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir.

Downing Street, May 27, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state, in reply to your letter of the 20th instant, that there are no 7-ton and 64-pounder guns on hand, but the armaments recommended by the Defence Committee for New Zealand and other Colonies are being prepared as quickly as possible. Some time, however, must elapse before they are ready, but Sir Michael Hicks Beach hopes shortly to be in a position to acquaint you when they will be completed, and at the same time to place you in communication with the War Office, in order that you may make arrangements for their shipment.

I am to inclose a copy of the report of the Colonial Defence Committee on New Zealand, together with copies of the telegrams which have passed on the subject.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 134.

R. H. MEADE.

Colonial Office to War Office and Admiralty.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, May 27, 1878. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 30th ultimo, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Treasury§ approving of provisior being made in the Army and Navy Estimates for the first cost of the works and armaments recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for Barbados and Jamaica, and I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State for War [Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty] to give the necessary directions for giving effect to the recommendations of the Committee with the least possible delay.

I am to request that you will call the attention of the Secretary of State for War to the paragraph in the previous letter from this Office leaving to the decision of the Military and Naval Departments the question of adopting the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee as regards Sierra Leone.

1 am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 135.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Marquis of Normanby.

(Secret.) (Paraphrase of Telegram.)

Downing Street, May 28, 1878. PLEASE state if there is any officer of the Royal Engineers or Artillery in New Zealand capable of designing and superintending construction of defensive works. If your Government wish it, and will defray expense, the services of a competent officer can be placed at your disposal.

* No. 94.

[593]

+ No. 117.

‡ No. 61.

§ No. 125.

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