A Colonial Navy. 77 



for the purpose of coaling, and for the maintenance of com- 

 munications direct, not only with India and China but with 

 Africa, and also with a view to maintain in war time a 

 duplicate communication with Europe, by having extra 

 vessels running to Ceylon in connection with the Indian lines, 

 but this does not form an integral part of the present 

 scheme. 



29. Of the subsidiary depots, one of the second-class should 

 be established at the Cape of Good Hope, and one at the port 

 of destination in England, whilst of the third-class, one 

 should be at Sydney, one at Hobarton, and one at King 

 George's Sound. 



30. The first-class depot should contain every requisite 

 for refit, coaling, provisioning, and supply of stores, arms, and 

 ammunition complete. The second-class should contain 

 every requisite for refitting and repair to the parts of the 

 ships' engines and armaments most liable to derangement 

 and wear, and for coaling and general stores ; whilst the 

 third-class depots should be simply for coaling and ordinary 

 stores. 



31. At each depot proper coal staithes and machinery 

 should be erected, but more especially at King George's 

 Sound and the Cape of Good Hope, of sufficient capacity to 

 be able to deliver on board not less than sixty tons of coal 

 per hour. 



32. Annexed I give the cost of such a service as the one 

 proposed, together with the annual charge and estimated 

 revenue. It must not be forgotten, in considering the 

 following estimates, that the expenditure is not necessarily 

 an immediate one, but may be spread over a term of years, 

 and the service extended as required. For instance, at first, 

 a monthly mail could be placed, to run alternately with our 

 present overland service, and this would afford satisfactory 

 test of the soundness of the scheme, before proceeding further 

 with the larger outlay for the whole, and with the expensive 

 depot at Hobson's Bay, and the colonial service. This would 

 at once reduce the immediate outlay two-thirds. The cost 

 of the iron-clads can be covered by at once stopping further 

 outlay for the construction and armament of existing forti- 

 fications and experimental defences in the waters of Hobson's 

 Bay. 



33. Estimated cost of providing steam fleet, iron-cased 

 floating batteries, and depots suitable for establishing and 

 maintaining a fortnightly mail service to Europe, via the 



