A.—2

22

Enclosures. Sm,— Admiralty, S.W., 16th April, 1886. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of correspondence which has taken place (as per schedule enclosed) with regard to imparting gunnery and torpedo instruction to officers and men in the employ of the Australian Colonies. 2. My Lords are prepared to approve generally of the proposals contained in Admiral Tryon's letter of the 4th January, 1886 —that is to say, they will sanction the services of such instructors as the Commander-in-Chief may consider necessary to be lent for imparting the said instruction, under the restrictions referred to in Admiral Tryon's letter, no charge being made against the Colonial Governments for the ordinary pay of the instructors; but the colonies to defray the expense of the special allowances to be granted as instruction-money to those engaged in imparting the instruction, as laid down in the scale of allowances enclosed in the Admiral's letter above quoted. 3. My Lords are also of opinion that the Colonial Governments should pay for the stores used in carrying out the instruction, observing that the total estimated expense of such storas for the present only amounts to about £30, of which two-thirds would be naval stores and one-third War Office stores. 4. I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform their Lordships whether he concurs in these proposals; upon which the necessary instructions will be issued. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGkegok.

Requesting Sanction for a Skeleton Scheme for Torpedo and other Instructors, with a Scale of Pay for Stores and Instruction of Officers or Men in Colonial Employ. Sib, — H.M.S. " Nelson," at Auckland, 4th January, 1886. With reference to their Lordships' letter of the 18th August, 1885, G Mff, the most convenient time for undertaking the instruction of men belonging to the colonies will be after the return of H.M.S. " Nelson " to Sydney from the summer cruise. 2. In addition to the application made by the Governor of Queensland, I have received an application from South Australia for permission for a Mr. Clarkson to go through a course of Whitehead and electric-light instruction. I have assented to this. 3. As a preliminary arrangement, I have built a small shed on Garden Island, Sydney, the cost of which will be charged to the sum allowed for new works, Garden Island, and it will not exceed that allowed on estimate 1885-86 for new works. This will enable the instruction given to those belonging to our ships, as well as to others, to be conducted without the interruptions that are unavoidable when instruction in such matter is imparted on board a ship in commission. 4. The duty of teaching those not actually in Her Majesty's service is, I believe, somewhat novel. The instructors will be in receipt of far less wages than those who are under instruction and in similar positions of life. Taking all the points into consideration, I think it not unreasonable that the instructors should receive in these cases a special allowance, which I am confident the colonies will be glad to defray : in fact, I am confident that all such arrangements do more towards promoting a sound practical national federation than almost anything else that has yet been conceived, and Ido not anticipate any difficulty in the matter; and the whole of the pay and receipt arrangements can be settled on board the flagship. 5. This question was raised before I left England, and in my instructions I was authorized to consider that the idea would be entertained. I also referred to it in my letter of the Bth July, 1885, No. 867 (confidential), paragraph 24. 6. In the scale of payment I send herewith 1 have considered that the Admiralty arc prepared to sanction the Cominander-in-Chief lending the services of instructors free of cost or charge of any kind to the colonies, and that the pay which the colonies will give will be additional to the wages and allowances the men now receive, and the above, together with the pension prospects, will raise their wages when employed to instruct those in colonial employ so as to more nearly approach colonial wages. 7. To prevent abuse, laxity, and undue delays, however created, I propose to place a strict limit on the time that each course of instruction should occupy; if a longer period is occupied it will not be paid for. Should hereafter the instruction be extended so as to require more time, the time now fixed can be altered, but the reason should be clearly set forth. 8. The number of instructors to be employed will vary with the number who require to be instructed, and, secondly, with the dates on which those sent for instruction arrive. The distances are so considerable between the centres of the different colonies, and the movements of Her Majesty's ships are sufficiently uncertain to prevent fixed dates for joining classes being enforced, nor do the very small numbers now under consideration render this necessary at present; but I write rather fully, as we are commencing a system that is sure to extend. 9. A certain amount of stores will be expended when imparting this instruction; but, at all events at present, their cost will be inconsiderable, and if they are given by their Lordships the gift, though small, will be much appreciated. 10. Referring oiwie more to the scale of allowances for instruction, I have considered not only the ordinary colonial wages, but the pay of the seamen and others engaged in the colonial vessels of war. 11. The position of officers in Her~Majesty's service seems to be on a different footing, and I think the present regulations concerning check-money, if it is found necessary to give anything, are sufficient for the present time. At some future time the case may be different.