A.—6.

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

NAVAL DEFENCE OF THE COLONY (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-Genebal to the Peemiee. Sie,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 3rd December, 1884. I was lately requested by the Colonial Office to prepare a short memorandum for Sir Thomas Brassey, showing what had been done in providing for the naval defence of the colony in the following points: 1, ships; 2, naval reserves; 3, defence of harbours. In accordance with that request I prepared the memorandum for Sir Thomas Brassey of which I enclose a copy, and I took the opportunity of transmitting to him a copy of His Excellency the Governor's address, delivered at the New Zealand Institute on the 4th October last. I now transmit to you a Times (3rd December, 1884) report of the statement which was made by Sir Thomas Brassey in the House of Commons last night. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for Sir Thomas Beassey. The measures to be taken by New Zealand for the defence of her coasts are now under the consideration of the Colonial Government. As regards ships, the colony has four spar torpedo-boats of the second class, 63ft. long, with a speed of seventeen knots, which were built last year by Messrs. Thorneycroft. One of them has been fitted with gear for the Whitehead torpedo. As regards men, the last return gives the strength of the Naval Artillery at 530, of whom 419 are efficient. As regards harbour defences, full details were given in an address delivered by Governor Sir W. Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., on the 4th October last. In 1878 the Government procured from England a number of 7-in. and * 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns; but no arrangements have yet been made for placing them in position. Before these armaments could be properly turned to account it was necessary to prepare definite plans of the works, and with this object the services of an Imperial officer—Major Cautley, B.E.—were placed for a time at the disposal of the Government. Sir W. Drummond Jervois described the measures he would recommend for the defence of each of the chief ports, and proposed that a few of the large steamers trading to the colony should be made capable of being used, in case $f need, as armed cruisers. He considered that his recommendations could all be carried out for £400,000, besides some annual expense, in addition to existing votes, for ammunition and stores and the pay of officers and men. These proposals are now before the New Zealand Legislature, which is in session. F. D. Bell.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Peemiee. Sie,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 17th March, 1885. I transmit to you herewith a Times report of what took place in the House of Lords last night upon a motion by Viscount Sidmouth for correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of the Australasian Colonies relative to the formation and maintenance of a colonial naval force. I—A. 6.