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LIST of Documents accompanying.*

A. Proposed Battery on Sangster's Kncll. B. Proposed Battery on Rodd Hill. C.Proposed Battery on Signal Hill.

D.

E. Proposed Battery at Cape Saxe.

5.

Chart of Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours.

6.

Chart of Esquimalt Harbour.

7.

Chart of Nanaimo Harbour.

8.

Chart of Burrard Inlet, &c.

F. 1

G. f

Proposed Battery at Beacon Hill.

10.

8A. Chart of Nanaimo Harbour.

9. Map showing proposed route of Canada Pacific Railway.

Chart, Cape Caution to Port Simpson.

1.

Map of British Columbia.

11.

Chart, Bute Inlet, &c.

2. Map of Alaska and adjoining territory.

12.

Photograph from Vancouver's Map.

3. Chart of Haro Straits.

4. Map showing railways through Western States.

Book of Tracings, showing temporary Batteries constructed

by Lieut.-Colonel Irvine, R.A.

No. 126.

Sir,

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

Admiralty, May 3, 1880:

A QUESTION having arisen as to the subsidy promised on certain conditions to be granted from Imperial funds towards the construction of a graving-dock at Esquimalt, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that they may be favoured with information whether the Royal Commission on the Defence of the Colonies have yet arrived at any conclusion as to the desirability, or otherwise, of fortifying Esquimalt.

No. 127.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Sir,

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

13, Delahay Street, May 11, 1880.

I AM directed by the Royal Commissioners on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd May,† asking to be informed whether the Commission have yet arrived at any conclusion as to the desirability, or otherwise, of fortifying Esquimalt.

I am to state, in reply, that the Commission have not yet considered the question, but that, as soon as they reassemble their meetings having been adjourned till Parliament resumes business-they will hope to send an answer to their Lordships' inquiry.

I have, &c. (Signed)

HERBERT JEKYLL.

No. 128.

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

13, Delahay Street, October 15, 1880.

Sir,

I AM directed to inform you that your letter of the 3rd May, in which you ask whether the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad have yet arrived at any conclusion as to the desirability, or otherwise, of fortifying Esquimalt has engaged the careful attention of the Commission.

The question is one of unusual difficulty, owing to many circumstances which in the course of their inquiry have been brought under their notice, such, for example, as the sparseness of the population of Vancouver Island, and consequent difficulty in raising any local force, its proximity to the United States, and isolation from British territory; to which may be added the change of conditions which may be expected to follow the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, an event which may be looked for within a comparatively short time.

In addition to this, with every desire to give their Lordships the earliest answer to their question, the Commission feel it difficult at present to come to a definite conclusion as to the defence of Esquimalt, until they see their way to making recommendations with regard to several other of the most important stations as to which the information on which they depend has not yet been received.

* Not printed.

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I have, &c.

(Signed)

HERBERT JEKYLL.

+ No. 126.

240

Appendix No. 4.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.

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