A.—2

8

Movements of Ships of Australian Squadron in Queensland.

C. T. Scott, Bear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.

Enclosure No. 2. Sib, — Admiralty, 7th February, 1893. With reference to your letters of the 19th December last and 20th January, and to my communication of the sth January, respecting the visits of Her Majesty's ships to ports of the colonies of South and West Australia, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that my Lords have now communicated with. Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott, the late Commander-in-Chief. The Governor and Chief Secretary of South Australia refer to the infrequency of the visits of the ships of the Australian squadron to South and West Australian ports, and to the employment of these ships on duty connected with the Pacific Islands, and it is asked that one ship should be stationed all the year in South and West Australia. In your letter of the 19th ultimo you observe that the arrangement arrived at during the Conference does not seem to have been carried out, as an intimation was given by Lord George Hamilton and Admiral Sir Arthur Hood that the new vessels should not be sent to the islands, but employed in visiting the principal ports in the different colonies, and you suggest whether the auxiliary ships should not be kept for that purpose. My Lords have already forwarded, for the consideration of the Marquis of Ripon, copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott, dated the 31st October last, in which he observes that the duration of the visits of Her Majesty's ships had been underestimated, and no account taken of the " Orlando " and" Cordelia." He points out that, as only four of the Australasian ships are kept in commission, it would be impossible, with justice to other colonies, to station one of these ships permanently in South Australian waters ; also, that it would be unfair to the crews of other ships, and injurious to their health, to employ them permanently on the harder work amongst the islands —work, which, it is to be observed, affects the colonies—in order to keep the ships commissioned under the agreement in Australian ports. In the further communication received from Lord Charles Scott he adheres to these views, and points out that remarks made during the Conference of the nature referred to by you were considered to be embodied in the agreement. My Lords concur in the views expressed by the late Commander-in-Chief. Although remarks may have been made as to the probable employment of new ships, it was also stated that it would be necessary for the Admiral to have discretionary power as to their employment, and it was ultimately understood, as expressed in the agreement, that the Commander-in-Chief was to have full control (except as specified in the case of New Zealand) over these ships, and employ them anywhere within the station. To make any marked distinction in the employment of Her Majesty's ships on this station, reserving the more agreeable work for one part of it, would have a very bad effect on the discipline of the squadron.

Ship. From To Number of Days. Remarks. " Orlando " "Mildura" "Wallaroo" " Eingarooma" ... '■' Tauranga " "Katoomba" ... "Boomerang" ... " Karrakatta" .. " Boyalist " '•' Eingdove " August 15, 1891 /» 6, „ 7 it * j a 6, „ ,t 6, „ a 6, „ a 6, „ 7, „ September 5, „ August 14, „ September 18, „ October 18, November 15, „ May 22, 1892 August 29, „ October 13, „ May 14, August 4, „ October 4, „ 27, „ August 26, „ a 12, ,/ September 10, 1891 q if "j it a 3, „ 1, „ a 3, „ August 31, „ September 1, „ 11, . August 21, „ September 26, „ October 23, December 1, „ June 19, 1892 September 19, „ October 14, „ June 21, „ August 22, „ October 7, « 31, „ September 3, „ October 31, „ 26 28 27 26 28 28 25 25 6 7 8 5 16 28 21 1 36 18 3 4 7 80 Visiting various ports. if it it it it it it it it it • •' it it '" it 'Eap'id" it n U ' • • a 'Lizard" a it n a it a "'Orlando ,, lt Boomerang " ... it Brisbane. a 453