the assumption that that supremacy is, as it undoubtedly will be, maintained. In the event of Great Britain being engaged in hostilities with any great maritime Power, the enemy would retain the most powerful portion of his fleet in European waters, or in the Atlantic, for the protection of his country, or for operations in the immediate neigh-bourhood of hostilities. If he sent his fleet, or any considerable portion of it, on an expedition against the Australasian Colonies, a sufficient part of our Home fleet would in turn be set free to intercept it; and our squadrons in the Pacific, on the China, the Australasian, and Indian stations, might, if necessary, be concentrated to oppose it. But, whilst the bulk of the enemy's naval forces would be occupied in the immediate scene of action in Europe or America, he might no doubt despatch one or more cruisers, and possibly an ironclad, to operate against our maritime commerce, or make a descent upon Australasian ports, which, if undefended or insufficiently protected, would offer tempting objects of attack. Eluding our cruisers, and appearing suddenly on the coast of New Zealand or Australia, the enemy might capture the merchant-vessels in the harbours; or—under threat of bombardment, or after actually firing into one of the towns—demand and obtain payment of money. Or this object might be attained by an enemy landing a small force in the vicinity of a town, if steps were not taken to meet such a contingency. Of late years the Governments of the several Australian Colonies (I do not include Western Australia) have incurred considerable expenditure in providing defences for their principal ports. In 1877, accompanied by Colonel (now Major-General) Scratchley, at the request of the several Governments concerned, I visited all these colonies, and proposed measures for the defence of Port Phillip, Port Jackson, Newcastle, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, Hobart, and other places. I am glad to say that—thanks to the zeal and energy of Major-General Scratchley, who was charged with the carrying-out of the works—the recommendations made by me are now far advanced towards completion.Action of Australian Colonies respecting defences. At Port Phillip batteries have been constructed and armed for the defence of the entrance and the West Channel, and a torpedo establishment has been provided with a view to applying torpedo defences in suitable positions in the channels within “the heads.” A design for an important marine fort, which forms part of the system of defence—with reference to which, accompanied by Major Cautley, I reeently held a meeting at Melbourne with all the authori-