A.—No. 6.

20

PAPERS RELATING TO

ArrEKDix C,

Defence—H.M. Ships.

Colony by the Queen. Lord Kimberley would therefore be glad if the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would give such instructions to the officers commanding Her Majesty's vessels as will insure their special attention to this service. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. H. T. Holland.

Mr. "Wolley to Sir F. Eogees, Bart. Sir, — Admiralty, Ist June, 1871. "With reference to your letter of the 18th ultimo, respecting the Naval assistance to be afforded to the Colony of New Zealand, 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 Commodore Stirling has been informed that it is intended eventually to reinforce the squadron under his orders by another vessel; and, in the meantime, he has been directed to make such arrangements for meeting the wishes of the Earl of Kimberley as may be effected without prejudice to the requirements for visits of Her Majesty's ships to other parts of the station. I have, &c, Sir Frederic Eogers, Bart., &c, &c, Colonial Office. Thomas "Wollet.

Hon. J. Vogel to the Sechetaet of State for the Colonies. Mt Lokd, — Charing Cross Hotel, London, 12th June, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the Bth instant, enclosing copy of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Board of Admiralty, respecting Her Majesty's ships on the Coast of New Zealand; and I thank your Lordship for the same. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, &c. Julius Vogel.

APPENDIX D. DEFENCE OF THE COLONY. TOEPEDOES. Memorandum for the Hon. J. Vogel. The question of the defence of the principal ports of the Colony against outward attack, in the event of England being involved in war, has, as you are aware, seriously engaged the attention of the Government, and has been the subject of communication to the Imperial Government. Ministers understand that torpedoes form an effective and a comparatively inexpensive protection of harbours against the attack of vessels, and they wish you, while you are in England, to obtain full information on this subject. They also wish you, in continuation of the representations already made by the Colonial Government, to communicate with the Imperial authorities, and ascertain whether they would be willing to supply the Colony with torpedoes for the protection of its harbours, and if so, on what terms. It is not necessary to impress on you the strong claims which the Colony has on the Imperial Government for its protection in the case of foreign war. W. GISBORNE, "Wellington, 2nd February, 1871. Colonial Secretary.

The Hon. J. Vogel to the Secbetaey of State for the Colonies.

My Lord, — Charing Cross Hotel, London, Ist May, 1871. My Government write to me to represent to your Lordship the defenceless condition of New Zealand, in the event of any attempt at foreign aggression. They especially wish to know, Whether it is desirable that torpedoes should be used for defending the harbours of the Colony; and, if so, upon what terms Her Majesty's Government would supply them ? I am unaware whether it would be better to send out torpedoes ready made, or to send merely instructions for making them. It is to be borne in mind, that whilst a few would be required for the purpose of familiarizing the proper persons in the different ports with their use, it might be years before they would be required for actual service, if ever they were so required. Nevertheless, it would be highly desirable that, in the event of their being required, there should be properly-trained persons ready to use them. I venture to suggest that the comparative security from aggressive attacks which torpedoes would afford to the ports of distant Colonies, is of sufficient importance to Imperial interests to make it desirable that the Colonies should be properly instructed as to their use. In more than one of the ports of New Zealand there are already efficient Volunteer Naval Brigade forces ; and I have no doubt that companies of the same could be raised in all the chief ports. I respectfully submit that it would be very desirable that the commanders of Her Majesty's ships on the station —when they are able to do so without inconvenience to the requirements of the service,