A.—6.

Another grave objection to separate action would be the greater difficulty of securing a constant succession of officers and men. This is, I suppose, admitted by every one to be an object of the greatest practical importance from many points of view, upon which it is unnecessary to enlarge. In the case of united action this difficulty wrould be diminished, and might be entirely overcome by satisfactory arrangements which could not be so readily made in the case of separate action. If, then, individual action would not satisfactorily secure the desired result, the other alternative is combined action on the part of all the colonies, t can see no difficulty in the conclusion of an agreement for this purpose amongst the Australasian Colonies if the several Governments apply themselves to the matter with a desire to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, and I think that the suggestions contained in Admiral Tryon's confidential memorandum of the 27th March, addressed to Sir lienry Loch, the Governor of Victoria, form an admirable basis for such an agreement. I therefore submit the following proposals for consideration : — 1. That a fleet of six fast cruisers be raised and maintained at the joint expense of the Australasian Colonies in proportion to their population. If New Zealand declines to join, the number to be reduced to four. 2. The ships to be built at the joint expense of the colonies in the same proportions, the type and armament being agreed to by the Admiralty and the Colonial Governments. 3. The ships to be employed solely for the defence of the Australasian coasts and protection of British interests in Australasian waters, unless with the joint consent of all the Australasian Governments. . - 4. The ships to be commissioned and re-commissioned in all respects as other ships m Her Majesty's navy, of which they would form an integral part, to fly the white ensign (with a distinguishing badge or flag to be devised for the purpose), and to be under the command of the admiral commanding the Australian Station. 5. A sufficient number of sea-going torpedo-boats to be provided on the same conditions. 6. A due regard to be paid to the admission of Australian boys as cadets on the ships of the Australian fleet. This should be the subject of express stipulation with the Imperial Government. 7'. An Australian arsenal and dockyard to be established and maintained at the like joint expense. Having regard to the natural advantages of the Harbour of Port Jackson and its nearness to the best supplies of coal, I suggest that the arsenal should be established in that harbour. 8. A Permanent Appropriation Act to be passed in each colony providing the necessary funds to give effect to these proposals—the Act to be in force for ten years, except by the mutual consent of all the Governments, or of all but two, and, in that case, until after one year's notice to the dissenting Governments. 9. A Commission consisting of three members, each being a member of a Government of one of the colonies, to be appointed to represent the several colonies and supervise the expenditure in conjunction with the admiral. 10. In time of profound and assured peace one or more of the ships to be put out of commission or employed on other services to be agreed to. In these proposals I have, as will be observed, followed to a large extent Admiral Tryon's suggestions, and I have taken this opportunity and adopted this mode of bringing the matter under notice, because it seems evident that no satisfactory action can be taken until some concrete propos.d, open to assent or dissent and to discussion, is put forward, and because it appears to me of urgent importance that the opinions of the several colonies should be known on the subject as soon as possible, so that if by any unhappy mischance common action should be found impracticable the colonies may, nevertheless, individually adopt the best measures that are open to them for the protection as well of the general interests of Australasia as of their own. It may perhaps be expedient to hold a conference of representatives of the several Governments to discuss the subject before a scheme is definitely adopted. S. W. Geiffith.

. No. 25. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OP VICTORIA AND HIS EXCELLENCY REAR-ADMIRAL TRYON, C.8., COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, RELATIVE TO THE DEFENCES OP THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. His Excellency the Goveenoe to the Peemieb. Memorandum for the Hon. the Premier. Government House, Melbourne, 30th March, 1885. The Governor begs to transmit to the Hon. the Premier a copy of a correspondence which has taken place between Bear-Admiral Tryon, C.8., and himself with reference to the defences of these colonies and the protection of the commercial interests of the Empire in Australasian waters. Heney B. Loch.

Enclosures. The GjOveenoe to Bear-Admiral Teyon, CB. g m Government House, Melbourne, 21st March, 1885. At the conference which was held at Government House on Wednesday, the 18th instant, at which your Excellency was good enough to be present, the questions relating to the defences of the Port Phillip Heads and other approaches to Melbourne were discussed and considered; but there was an important question connected with the defence of this and the other Australian Colonies upon which I purposely did not touch, leaving it for separate consideration and discussion

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