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(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

113

No. 222.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, July 5, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 14th ultimo,* I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying extract from a letter from the Treasury, sanctioning the expenditure of 7,2007. at Tanjong Kutong, but reserving the question of its apportionment between the Imperial and Colonial Treasuries.

ཀ

I am to take this opportunity of requesting that sufficient notice may be given of the time at which it is proposed to ship the armament for Barbados, as Sir Michael Hicks Beach has referred the general question of the apportionment of cost for the various works recommended for Colonial ports to the Colonial Defence Committee, and he thinks it may be desirable to come to some agreement with the Colony of Barbados before the guns, &c., are actually sent there.

I am,

(Signed)

&c.

R. H. MEADE.

No. 223.

July 8.)

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

(Confidential.) Sir,

Wellington, May 23, 1878.

I FORWARD to you, in a separate cover, the copy of your cypher despatch dated the 25th April, and also a copy of the same despatch as repeated on the 6th May.

2. I regret to say that, as it originally arrived, it appeared quite unintelligible, but after twelve hours' work over it I succeeded in making out, to a certain extent, its meaning, and the repeated cypher made it quite clear.

3. 1 at once communicated with the Government, and I am happy to say that, as I informed you by telegraph, they are quite prepared to carry out the proposed defences, and I have now the honour to inclose a copy of their Memorandum upon the subject.

4. I trust that no delay will have occurred in shipping the necessary armament and ammunition, as little can be done till that arrives, there being at present no guns in the Colony which would be of the slightest use for the purpose.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

NORMANBY.

Inclosure in No. 223.

Memorandum.

SIR GEORGE GREY presents his respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby. The New Zealand Ministers reply to Her Majesty's Government that the Colony will undertake expense of proposed armament. Her Majesty may rest assured that her New Zealand subjects will, in the event of any crisis, loyally and resolutely, in all respects, do their duty to their Queen and country.

Sir George Grey requests that the Marquis of Normanby will be so good as at once to telegraph a copy of this Memorandum to Her Majesty's Government for their information.

At Sea, May 4, 1878.

No. 224.

Governor Sir W. C. F. Robinson, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks

(Confidential.)

Sir,

Beach, Bart.

Government House, Singapore, May 23, 1878. ADVERTING to the documents noted in the margin, of which copies are attached for easy reference, I have now the honour to submit copies of correspondence showing the

* No. 172.

[793]

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+ No. 49.

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