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From the plan accompanying the Report it appears that the former instal- lation is some 1,200 yards from Block-house Point, and that the two lights are about 3,800 yards apart.

It is not considered that divergent beams are effective at so great a range as 1,900 yards. The southern installation should be brought considerably nearer to Block-house Point.

6. Examination of vessels.-The Local Committee suggest (p. 4, paragraph 5) that the owners of boats available for boarding purposes be communicated with by the Imperial or Colonial Government, with a view to making a contract for their use by the public in time of war.

It is considered that this action should be taken by the Colonial Government.

7. The Appendix to the Report on p. 8 lays down certain signals to be hoisted on the boarding-boat to show whether vessels desirous to enter the port are to be allowed to pass in.

It would be advisable that a signal should also be hoisted on every vessel allowed to enter, and that this signal should be frequently changed.

8. Armament.--On p. 5, paragraph 10, of their Report, the Local Com- mittee recommends that means of fighting the guns at night should be provided without delay.

It is

It is not clear what means are intended by this recommendation. not proposed to provide illuminated sights for any but quick-firing guns, and their provision for these guns is under consideration.

9. The estimates for additional armament, given in the Tables on p. 6 of the Report, are far too small, but as the Colonial Defence Committee do not propose the supply of the armament suggested in the Tables, it is unnecessary to discuss its cost.

10. Garrison.-The Local Defence Committee consider (p. 7, paragraph 3) that the necessity of maintaining the shore defences in a state of readiness for instant action, day and night, taken in conjunction with the require- ments of the proposed additional armaments, points to the absolute need of a considerable augmentation of the artillery garrison quartered in the district.

Now that it is not proposed to seriously augment the armaments of the ports this increase of garrison is less necessary, but the question of any increase that may be required in the artillery at the Cape will be considered by the Committee when they next deal with the general question of the garrisons of that Colony.

11. Look-out and signalling stations.-The proposals of the Local Com- mittee contained in their Supplementary Report on pp. 8 and 9 are concurred in.

The Colonial Defence Committee recommend that the question of con- necting Hangklip Point and Saldanha Bay by aerial lines with the existing telegraph system should be considered by the War Office, with a view to perfecting the arrangements by which early notice of the approach of hostile vessels shall be communicated to the defended ports.

12. The Colonial Defence Committee understand that the revision of the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee having been completed, the proposals contained in it, as far as they may be approved, will now be embodied in the next revision of the Defence Scheme by the Local Defence Committee, and that that Committee will in future deal with any question arising out of them.

June 29, 1896.

(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.—1/7/96.

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