§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHasked the Colonial Secretary, Whether he has made a selection of Papers in reference to the formation of a Navy for the Australian Colonies which he would lay 12 upon the Table; he also asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any Correspondence had passed between the Admiralty and the Colonies on the same subject which could without inconvenience to the Public Service be produced?
§ THE EARL OF DERBY,in reply, said, there would be no difficulty about making a selection from the Papers referred to by the noble Viscount with a view to publication.
§ THE EARL OF NORTHBROOKexplained that there was no direct official communication between the Admiralty and the Colonies. Communications from the Colonies affecting the Admiralty were sent to that Department by the Colonial Office, and formed part of the Correspondence of that Office. His noble Friend the Colonial Secretary was, therefore, the proper authority to decide whether such communications should be published or not. Any other communications were of an unofficial character between the Admiralty and the Agents General of the Colonies.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter past Ten o'clock.