§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I wish to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be pleased to call the attention of the Government of the Colony of Western Australia to the arrangements agreed upon last year for the defence of King George's Sound as a most important coaling station, in order that the forts or batteries to be supplied with guns by the Imperial Government may be completed without further delay, the Secretary of State for War having informed Parliament that the guns are 1860 ready for despatch to the Colony, but that the works for their reception were not nearly completed, if even they were begun?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThere is no occasion to press the Australian Governments on this subject. They are acting in concert, and are pressing forward the work as fast as they can. The guns are ready for shipment, but the mountings, which were equally prepared, are to be changed by the wish of the Colonial Governments for those of another type, necessitating fresh manufacture. The order has been given, and the work will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.