A—No. 6

SUPPLEMENT..

( Containing Correspondence referred to in preceding Dispatch of Sir G. Grey.)

NEW ZEALAND, UKdiAi:, iUih July, I860.

No. 1. Copt or a DESPATCH from sir g. c. lewis to governor gore browne. Downing Street, 10th August, 1860. 8jr,— I transmit for your information a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in which with reference to a question which has been brought before them in connection with the defence of the Colony of Victoria, they express a desire to be informed of the views entertained by the Governors of the Colonies in respect of the expediency of establishing, if practicable, some uniform regulations or enactments under which Government vessels belonging to the dependencies of the Crown, would be legally recognizeu as Vessels of War. The attention of the Governors of the other Australian Colonies, with the exception of Western Australia, has been directed to this subject; and I should be glad to be informed of the views which may be entertained by your Government upon the points adverted to by their Lordships. I need hardly add that the subject is one which can only be dealt with by Act of Parliament, and that it is with a view to Imperial Legislation that I am desirous of obtaining the views of the Australian Governments. I have, &c, Governor Gore Browne, C.B., G. C. Lewis. &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 1. LORD C. PAGET TO SIR F. ROGERS, BART. Admiralty, 18th July, 1860. Sir,— My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having had under consideration your letter of the 18th May last, relating to the defences of the Colony of Victoria, I am directed to acquaint you for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, that upon an attentive perusal of the Reports from Commodore Seymour, of Her Majesty's ship '"Pelorus," which accompanied it, they are of opinion that much attention is due to the suggestions of that officer, in so far as they relate to the means which would be best adapted for the local defence of the Colony. In connection, however, with this subject, and with the remarks of Commodore Seymour on the anomalous position of the Commander and Officers of the Colonial Steam Sloop " Victoria," my Lords would obseive that, before any decision can be taken in reference to the employment of a fleet of Guu Vessels, such as has been proposed, it would be indispensible to consider maturely the authority under which such vessels ought to be navigated. On the subject of Naval protection to be given generally to the Colonies of Australia and New Zealand, by the Royal Navy, my Lords need only advert at present to the former communications; but when the vastly increasing interests, and the amout of maritime population in those Colonies are considered, it appears to my Lords that the time must shortly arrive at which it may be desirable to determine upon what footing vessels which might be built, and armed, and manned, by the Colonial Governments, for local purposes, could be permitted to navigate as Vessels of War. Upon the High Seas, none but vessels commissioned under the authority of the Admiralty, acting on behalf of the Crown, can be legally recognized as Vessels of War; but since it is obvious that in the event of war, many advantages might be derived, and the maiitime means of the country might be increased by having recourse to the resources of those distant Colonies, it might be proper that the opinions of the Governors of the Colonies should be at once ascertained, with a view to some uniform regulations, or enactments, applicable to Colonial vessels, and to the polonies at large. My Lords deem it to be inexpedient at present to enter more fully into details upon this subject, but they will be prepared at any time under the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown, to take into consideration the measures which might be necessary in order that proper legal authority may be given to armed vessels equipped for the local defence of the Colonies, and at the cost of the Colonial Governments. I have, &c. Sir F. Rogers, Bart., C. Paget. &c, &c, &c.