CAB7-1 — Page 75

Page 75

Page 75

91

from St. John's when the works were dismantled was 4,000l., whereas that of the guns, with a due proportion of ammunition, now demanded, is 4,8001., and of small arms, accoutrements, &c, 7,0161., making 11,8167. in all.

Under these circumstances, as there appears to be no especial interest involved which would remove St. John's from the category of numerous other Colonial ports which are of consequence chiefly by reason of their trade, I am to suggest that, if the Imperial Govern- ment furnish the required guns, the Colony should undertake, at their own charge, to place the guns in position and maintain the necessary force for manning and defending the port, including the provision of their arms and equipment.

By this arrangement the Colony would become possessed of the full value of the armament that was moved when the works were dismantled, with the great advantage of having it in the form of modern rifled guns, and would thus be spared the expense to which the Government of the Dominion of Canada is now being put for the conversion of the old pattern guns made over to that Government upon the withdrawal of the Imperial troops.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

No. 185.

EUSTACE G. CECIL.

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

(Received June 22.)

(Telegraphic.)

PLEASE ask Admiralty to instruct Senior Naval Officer, Esquimalt, to comply with requisitions from Dominion Government by mistake above order addressed to Provincial Government who are not concerned.

No. 185.

Administrator Sir T. Shepstone to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-

(Received June 22.)

(Secret.) Sir,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular despatch, marked Secret, dated 20th March, 1878,* furnishing me with instructions on certain points relating to the defence of the territory under my Government, and to state, in reply, that those instructions, so far as they apply to the Transvaal, shall receive my special attention.

Government House, Pretoria, Transvaal, May 13, 1878.

(Signed)

I have, &c.

T. SHEPSTONE.

•

· No. 187.

Governor the Right Hon. Sir H. B. Frere, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received June 22.)

(Confidential.)

Sir,

Government House, Cape Town, May 29,

1878.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that the present Cabinet has made good progress with the Defence Bills, which they lost no time in introducing into Parliament.

2. The Bills have been received in a manner to justify a hope that they will pass as useful measures of self-defence.

3. The Colonial Budget will follow, and unless the present temper of the Colonial Legislature should change, there is good ground for believing that Ministers may, in a few weeks, be in a position to discuss practically the financial part of future measures of defence.

4. Meantime, progress has been made, rendering Simon's Bay and the Naval Dock- yard and Stores safer from attacks by privateers or light vessels during the occasional absence of a man-of-war. Colonel Hassard, C.R.E., bopes that in a few weeks the 2nd or Northern Battery may be advanced sufficiently to mount guns.

* No. 15.

Page 75

Page 75

Page 75Page 76