17

A—No. 6

Memorandum of the probable expense of making the Powder Magazine in Albert Barracks Shell-proof. (Enciowre.) £ a. d. Taking off the roof, re-fixing and re-slating .. ... ... 90 0 0 Turning additional thickness of arch over the existing arches ... ... 240 0 0 Making up side and end walla ... ... ... ... ... 210 0 0 £540_0 0 The works above estimated would make the two Magazines proof against Shells fired at a low angle from the Harbour, but not bomb-proof: nothing but a total walls of an additional thickness, would affect this. It may be observed that as the two Magazines are both over-full, at present there will not be any means of disposing of the Powder while the works are proceeding. (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers. COPT OF A MEMORANDUM BY THE GOTERNOR. July, 1859. Having consulted with the Honorable, the Colonel Commanding the Troops, the Commanding Royal Engineer, and Commander Campion, the senior Naval Officer on this Station, the Governor is of opinion, 1. That the Commanding Royal Engineer should be instructed to repair and renovate the works at Britomart Point immediately, at the expense of the Colonial Government; —the approximate estimate of the probable cost of the works, amounts to £673. 2. That the same Officer should also be instructed to make the Magazine bomb-proof at the expense of the Colonial Government, the estimate for which amounts to £540. 3. That the two Volunteer Companies should be offered to be made Royal Artillery Volunteers, and that the Honorable the Colonel Commanding the Troops be asked to furnish proper instructors at the expense of the Colonial Government. 4. Steps should be at nnce taken to find out how many discharged Soldiers trained to Artillery practice, reside in the neighbourhood of Auckland; their names and residences should be carefully noted, a rate of pay fixed, and every arrangement made for calling them into active service at a moment's notice; Officers should be named, and such a rate of pay established for all ranks as would make the service acceptable should it ever be required. 5. That instead of five hundred rifles, ordered from England by the Colonial Government, the number should be increased to one thousand, with the same proportion of ammunition. 6. Having reference to the Secretary of State's Despatch No. 26, of sth May, 1859, the Colonial Government should solicit the Imperial Government to station a first-class Screw Steam Gun Boat, completely armed and manned, as described in Commander Campion's letter and enclosure of 21st July, 1859. That, on an understanding that this vessel should be retained for local service, and not removed except in case of emergency, the Colonial Government would engage to pay to Her Majesty's Imperial Government an annual sum of £3000, and that in addition, the Colonial Government would furnish coals for the use of the Steam Gun-boat at its own expense, and pay the Officers and Men the same rate of batta, or additional pay, as is paid at the same time in the Australian Colonies. The Governor, and the Honorable the Colonel Commanding the Troops, will each forward to Her Majesty's Government the views of the Commanding Royal Engineer, and request that the Guns and ammunition specified by him, may be at once supplied; but in order that they may not ask for more Guns than are absolutely required, it will be necessary for Ministers to state distinctly whether the Colonial Government will undertake to bear the expense of the Batteries in which it is proposed to place them. {Fide Secretary of State's Despatch, No. 73, dated 3rd September 1856, and its enclosures, which was transmitted to Ministers by the Governor on the 31st December, 1856.) (Signed) T. Gobb Browne. I coincide in the above opinions. C. E. Gold, Colonel Commanding the Forces. I quite agree with the opinions above expressed. (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers. I perfectly agree with what ie atated in this Memorandum. (Signed) Ht. Campion, Commander, R.N., and Senior Officer present.