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Appendix No. 4.

CEYLON.

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trate all our strength on Galle or Colombo, and give up fortifying Trincomalee, an empty harbour, quite out of the way of all traffic, of no importance whatever to the Colony, and with which there is no regular communication?

May I ask if we can supply men to garrison all these places if they are armed, and will not torpedoes and torpedo-stores become ineffective and useless if left without a sufficient staff to look after them?

Trincomalee has certainly for many years been looked upon as the naval station for the East India squadron, but I think the time has come when coal, and naval ordnance stores for the use of Her Majesty's ships should be removed from thence to Colombo.

Bombay is now and must be the naval head-quarters of the East Indies, and in a paper I have recently forwarded, by permission, to the Admiralty, I have endeavoured to point out how Trincomalee, though a good harbour, fails to fulfil what was expected of it.

Bombay, is, of course, a most important place, and would, I presume, with other exposed places in India, be protected by the Indian Government.

With regard to Aden and Singapore, they are so manifestly important as coaling-stations, that no remark upon them from me is necessary, yet neither of these places are in a position, unaided, to take care of themselves in time of war.

As I have before said, I cannot look upon Trincomalee as of any vital importance. It is of no use whatever to the colonists, and I feel sure the General Commanding in Ceylon would be very glad to give up having a portion of his small force in such a distant and out-of-the way part of the Colony.

In conclusion, with regard to an Imperial coaling-station on the coast of Ceylon, I should inform you that, until the breakwater at Colombo is finished, ships could not coal there during the south-west monsoon, that is to say from about the 1st June to the end of September, but I have never heard of vessels being prevented coaling at Galle, except, perhaps, for a few hours.

I should like to add a few words on Mauritius, which, together with the Cape, has lost considerably in importance since the opening of the Suez Canal, yet it is said to be, for its size, the richest island in the world, and might it not again become of great use to us as a coaling-station in the event of the Canal being blocked for a long time?

Port Louis, though small, is a good harbour, and possesses a dry dock capable of docking a vessel drawing 18 feet water. It could easily be defended; in which, I believe, the colonists would willingly take part.

Truly, Mauritius is to be avoided during the hurricane and fever seasons, which usually fall at the same time, but now that such vast improvement is made in machinery, combined with so great an economy in fuel, it may be that the Cape and Mauritius will again be used by some of the vessels bound to and from the East.

No. 56.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

N. BOWDEN SMITH.

Sir,

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Downing Street, July 18, 1881. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of correspondence relative to the inauguration of a Rifle Volunteer Corps in Ceylon.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE

Inclosure 1 in No. 56.

Lieutenant-Governor Douglas to the Earl of Kimberley.

My Lord,

The Cottage, Nevara Eliza, Ceylon, May 25, 1881. I HAVE the satisfaction of being able to report the successful inauguration of a Rifle Volunteer Corps for this Colony, under the provisions of Ordinance 3 of 1861, which have hitherto remained inoperative.

2. The movement was started in January of this year, but did not meet with much prominent support until public attention was specially directed to the subject by the sudden withdrawal two months later of the effective portion of the regiment stationed in the island for service in Natal. A requisition was then presented to me bearing 296 signatures, asking for the assent required by Act 2 of the Ordinance, and, after consultation with the military authorities, and with the Executive Council, I caused the Proclamation to be issued, of which a copy is inclosed, and which gives the formal authority required under the Ordinance.*

A meeting of persons who had taken the oath under Article 7 of the Ordinance was then held in Colombo, presided over by the Chief Justice, at which the name of Mr. J. S. Armitage, a partner in one of the leading mercantile firms, and till recently Colonel of the 21st Lancashire Rifle Volunteers,

* Articles 15 and 16 of this Ordinance will require amendment at the next Session of Council under Circular of 7th October 1879, in consequence of the passing of "The Army Discipline Act, 1879.”

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