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of the Admiralty, with its enclosures, expressing the high appreciation entertained by their Lordships of the services rendered by the Australasian Colonies in cooperating with liear-Admiral Tryon in the storing of coal, &c, during the preparations in case of war which were made in 1885. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sir,— Admiralty, 24th April, 1886. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Bear-Admiral Tryon, Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, giving in detail the valuable and willing assistance rendered by the colonies in storing coal, &c, during the preparations in view of war which were made in 1885. The circumstances which rendered it necessary for the Commander-in-Chief to invite the assistance of the colonies in making this provision are described in the accompanying extract of a letter dated 12th June, 1885, No. 314. 2. In laying these enclosures before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, my Lords request that you will express the high appreciation which they entertain of the services rendered by the several colonies in this matter, and that you will move Earl Granville to cause their Lordships' acknowledgments to be conveyed to the Governors of the colonies who so cordially co-operated with Bear-Admiral Tryon. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGbegok.

Assistance rendered by the Colonies in storing Coal, &c, during the War Preparations in 1885 Bib,— " Nelson," at Adelaide, 2nd March, 1886. Be so good as to convey to their Lordships my desire to name to them the consideration with which my representations were received by the several, colonies during the preparations made in case of war in 1885. 2. Owing to circumstances which had special weight within these colonies, which were referred to in my letter dated the 12th June, 1885, No. 314, I was obliged to lay in a certain amount of coal at different ports. The stock deposited was not very large; but it established a system, and the amount could easily have been increased. 3. At Adelaide the supervision and charge of coal was undertaken by the colon}-. 4. At Hobart a hulk was provided free of cost, and many incidental expenses were borne by the colony. 5. At Sydney hulks of 3,000 tons, with caretakers, free of cost, were placed at my disposal. 6. At Brisbane a pier and a good closed shed for the storage of coal were erected at a very considerable cost, free of all charge to the Admiralty, and a hulk was also purchased by the colony, and filled with Imperial coal. 7. New Zealand gave railway carriage, storage, and incidental charges freely for the national purpose of facilitating the action of our ships of war. 8. I do not doubt but what the other colonies would have done the same, but I had not to ask them ; and in this matter, though I had some preliminary correspondence with Victoria, it was unnecessary to send coal to any port in that colony. 9. Should their Lordships think fit to express their acknowledgments of the service so freely rendered by the respective Governments and their employes, it cannot fail to be appreciated. I have, &c, G. Teyon, The Secretary to the Admiralty. Bear-Admiral.

Sib,— " Nelson," at Sydney, 12th June, 1885. Be pleased to inform their Lordships, owing to the fact that no stock of coal is kept in Australian ports, save in quite the outlying ones, it became necessary for me to consider the question, and to make arrangements that my squadron should be able to rely on a supply at certain ports. 2. It is the practice to order coal by telegram as wanted from the coal ports. This saves the cost of handling, insomuch as it is transferred direct from the steam colliers to the vessel requiring it, instead of its being first transferred to a hulk or store, and then to the ship ; and to such an extent is this, that even for the supply of the " Nelson," when at Melbourne, when it was uncertain how soon she might have to go to sea, I had to make special arrangements; and even at Sydney there is no stock of coal. 3. It is not so easy to introduce a new system, and it could not be put off till the last moment. I communicated with the different colonies, and requested their Governments to arrange for safe storage and supply; and suitable arrangements have been made everywhere save at Melbourne, where there is a hitch as to terms, which I can bridge if hereafter necessary. * * * :|: * * s;: I have, &c, G. TIIYON, The Secretary to the Admiralty. Bear-Admiral.