§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he was correctly informed when he stated that the Colonial Governments had not seen their way to undertake the necessary defensive works in King George's Sound and Torres Straits?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI find on looking at the reports of my speech that by inadvertence I did not do justice to the energy of the Australian Government. I am glad to say that the fortifications at King George's Sound are rapidly approaching completion, and those at Thursday Island have been pressed forward in a satisfactory manner. Both these places will therefore be fully armed during 1892—a result which reflects great credit on the various Colonial Governments concerned.