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Appendix No. 4.

MAURITIUS.

Proceedings of a Committee on the Defence of Mauritius, assembled in pursuance of a Despatch from the Honourable F. Napier Broome, C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of Mauritius, dated July 29, 1881.

Royal Engineer Office, Mauritius, August 1, 1881.

Present:

Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet-Colonel C. G. Gordon, C.B., R.E., Chairman.

The Honourable M. Connal, Surveyor-General and Superintendent of Public Works.

Captain R. D. King, R.N.

Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Robinson, R.A., Commanding Royal Artillery.

Lieutenant R. W. Rogers, R.N., also appointed Secretary.

Proposed by the Committee, and accepted in principle, that, as the Memorandum on the defence of Mauritius* only considers the defence of Port Louis and harbour, and leaves the defence of coast undefended-

1. The remodelling of Fort George be carried out as per Memorandum, but the guns should not be shielded.

2. That four gun-boats, the signal stations, and torpedo-launches should be under a naval officer, with officers and men under him.

3. That 100 infantry, 120 artillery, and 20 sappers, Royal Engineers, form the garrison, under a military officer.

•

4. That the police of the island be reorganized in a military manner.

Having carefully studied the Memorandum on the defence of Mauritius* we observe that four systems are proposed :-

No. 1, costing 44,2707., only remodels Fort George, and appears inadequate.

No. 2, costing 103,0957.

No. 3, costing 152,530%.

No. 4, costing 184,330.

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Note. To this last would have to be added the cost of two works similar to those proposed to be placed on the Pouce," at a cost of 8,9501. each, equal to 17,900%, to command the two roads leading out of the "Vallée des Prêtres," apparently overlooked by the Defence Committee of 1880.

In addition to these large sums, the garrison would have to be increased to 1,690 men of all arms, whilst another large item to be added to the three last schemes is extra barrack accommodation required, which would cost 30,000l. These sums appear to be so large, both in actual and annual outlay, that none of them are likely to be sanctioned, so propose the following, which does not entail any extra expenditure:-

(A.) Fort George remodelled as recommended by Mauritius Defence Committee, leaving out shields (four 10-in. muzzle-loading rifled, two 7-in. muzzle-loading rifled, four 7-in. breech-loading rifled, six smooth-bore).

120 artillerymen and 5 officers

20 sappers and 1 officer

100 linesmen or marines, and 4 officers

Senior Military Officer in command; contingencies

(B.) Four gun-boats, armed, one 10-in. muzzle-loading rifled.

1 Commander, 8 officers, and 80 men for gun-boats

1 Lieutenant, 20 men for signals

30 spare men for tugs (?), spar torpedoes (?), Whiteheads

Repairs of gun-boats

Contingent

:::::

£

10,080

1,680

8,240

5,085

25,085

£ 7,120

1,680

2,400

1,000

1,000

13,200

Total (A) (B)

38,285

Amount subscribed by Colonial and Imperial Governments

38,285

General calcalation, 80%. a-head per man.

OUTLAY.

(A.) Remodelling Fort George (without shields)

Torpedoes

(B.) Four gun-boats to carry one 10-in. gun each

Fitting tugs, racers, and light guns Formation of signal stations

* No. 49.

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:::

::

:::

::

£ 30,000 1,000

:::

31,000

60,000

1,000

1,000

62,000

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