CAB7-4 — Page 411

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208

383

The shoal water, intricate channels, and numerous islands around New Providence appear to make it a place peculiarly suited for the use of gun-boats and torpedo-boats. Two of the latter might be provided for the special service of the place.

Appendix No. 4.

BAHAMAS.

2 torpedo-boats.

Infantry

Boyal Artillery Royal Engineers

Total

•

•

GARRISON.

Men. 1,300

135 50

1,485

Colonel Bouchier, in 1859, considered it doubtful if any trustworthy local troops could be raised.

ESTIMATE OF Cost.

Project for denying the harbour to an enemy Complete project

April 12, 1881.

£

53,280

**

..

135,270

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

(Signed)

T. L. GALLWEY, Inspector-General of Fortifications.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

No. 116.

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

Downing Street, January 31, 1880.

Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, the accompanying papers relating to a proposal made by the Government of Newfoundland that an Imperial subsidy should be granted towards the construction of a graving dock at St. John's.

I am to request that the Commission will be good enough to take these papers into their con- sideration and to favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with their views as to whether the value of the proposed dock for Imperial purposes is sufficient to justify a compliance with the application of the Colonial Government.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Inclosure 1 in No. 116.

Sir,

Mr. Whiteway to Colonial Office.

23, Cecil Street, Strand, June 17, 1879. I HAVE the honour to inclose a Memorandum relative to a graving dock at St. John's, New- foundland, concerning which I have had the honour of an interview with the Right Honourable Sir Michael Hicks Beach.

I am, &c. (Signed)

W. V. WHITEWAY.

Inclosure 2 in No. 116.

Memorandum relative to a proposed Graving Dock at St. John's, Newfoundland.

IT is proposed to construct a dock of sufficient capacity to accommodate any of Her Majesty's iron-clads. Length of dock on floor, 500 feet; depth of water over sill at high water, ordinary spring tides, 27 feet; width at coping, 100 feet; and 83 feet at bottom.

A survey and report has been made by Messrs. Kinipple and Morris, who are the Engineers for the British Columbia Dock, and presented to the Newfoundland Government, in which they estimate the cost of the works complete at 110,000%. for a first-class stone dock such as is being built at Esquimalt harbour, British Columbia.

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£ 9,000

NEWFOUNDLAND.

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