“HAP. Xx] MILITARY AND NAVAL DEFENCE 1275 
previously obtained. Upon the latter question, the Law 
Officers were clearly of opinion that the crews would not be 
so liable ; and they thought that under the terms of their 
engagement the crews were only bound to navigate the ship 
on the same conditions and subject to the same discipline as 
merchant seamen. And, further, as the vessels had not as 
yet been within the limits of the Colony, and were not then 
manned by crews entered for the service of the Colony, they 
were of opinion that very serious difficulties might arise from 
their employment in any warlike operation. It may be 
desirable that your Government should take this advice into 
consideration when engaging officers or men for- service in 
any armed vessel belonging to the Colony. 
7. Colonial armed vessels whose services are accepted under 
8. 6 of the Colonial Naval Defence Act are to be deemed to all 
intents vessels of war of the Royal Navy. But in the event 
of a Colonial vessel of war making a long passage, such as 
a.voyage from England to Australia, in the course of which 
she would pass through several stations, meeting ships of 
war commanded by officers of various ranks, it is evident 
that many difficulties would arise which would render it 
very inconvenient, and probably impossible as the law now 
stands, to consider her as to all intents a vessel of war of 
the Royal Navy. She would be unprovided with the Navy 
signals, books, or regulations ; the relative rank of the officers 
in command is not provided for, and although the ship’s 
company would be under the Nawal Discipline Act, the 
captain would not sit on courts martial. It was, conse- 
quently, thought advisable that the Victorian vessels, which 
had already left England before March 4, should continue 
their voyage under the blue ensign and pendant for which 
Admiralty warrants had been granted to them. 
8. By s. 80 of the Queen’s Regulations for the Navy it is 
provided that Colonial ships of war maintained by a Colony 
under the Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865, shall wear the 
blue ensign with the seal or badge of the Colony in the fly 
thereof and a blue pendant. The Lords of the Admiralty 
would always be ready to grant the necessary warrant for 
any such vessel, such warrant being the proper evidence of 
her right to bear these colours. The pendant is the symbol 
of a ship of war, and foreign powers have been informed that 
vessels bearing these colours are entitled to all the privileges 
of vessels of war. . 
9. You will observe that in what I have said sea-going 
vessels only are in question, some portion of whose duties