§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, in consequence of an application from the Government of Victoria, Her Majesty has been advised to issue an Order in Council under the "Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865," giving to the gunboats Victoria and Albert, and to the torpedo boat Childers, while on the high seas, the status and privileges of ships of war of the Royal Navy?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIt was not until the 15th of January, when these 1335 vessels were ready to proceed to sea, that any application was made to the Colonial Office. The Secretary of State, anxious to further in every way the patriotic efforts of the Colony of Victoria, lost no time in moving in the matter; but as it was one of what the lawyers call prima impresuonis, it had to be referred to the Law Officers of the Crown. They reported that before an Order in Council could be passed under Section 6 of the Act referred to—that is, the section enabling Her Majesty to accept the services of Colonial vessels, it was necessary to pass an Order in Council under Section 3, which empowers the Colony to provide and equip vessels. It was further held necessary as a preliminary that the proper authority at Victoria should issue a Commission under the Victoria Act of 1870. We therefore at once telegraphed to the Governor of Victoria, and received back by telegram the required authority. An Order in Council was at once prepared, which is now ready, and will be passed at the next meeting of the Council. Under this Order these ships will possess the status and privileges awarded by all nations to ships of war; but as to the further point of their status as ships of war of the Royal Navy, I apprehend that a further Order in Council under Section 6 will be required.
§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that the Agent General for the Colony of Victoria has placed the gunboats Victoria and Albert, and the torpedo boat Childers, at the disposal of Her Majesty for active service under the Admiral commanding in the Bed Sea; whether one or more of these vessels would not be particularly useful as a despatch boat in present circumstances; and, whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will advise Her Majesty to show Her appreciation of the loyalty of Her Colonial subjects by accepting the offer?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANYes, Sir; an offer has been made on the part of the Government of Victoria to place at our disposal the vessels named in my hon. Friend's Question. Had there been any chance in the present operations of active service against a naval enemy, Her Majesty's Government would not have hesitated to accept, when it was in their power to do so, an 1336 offer made in so cordial and patriotic a spirit. But as the services of the Navy are confined to the defence of the Red Sea ports, and to aiding in the conveyance of troops, and as for these purposes the ships under Admiral Hewett's command are already more than adequate, there is no duty upon which the Victorian vessels could be usefully employed; and the Admiralty have therefore, with the highest appreciation of the loyal feeling which prompted the offer, felt themselves unable to avail themselves of it. Should, however, the formalities alluded to by my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies have been shortly completed, these vessels will be directed to communicate with Sir William Hewett on their way down the Red Sea, in case our anticipations of his requirements should be in any way erroneous.