During a discussion with the Dutch minister of colonies Rochussen (1) asked parliament member Ter Bruggen Hugenholtz (1) what the intention of the minister was with the steamships built or being built and which were to replace the former Civil Navy. He did not deny the probably huge value of ships of such kind for the Dutch East Indies. However replacing the civil navy by steamships would urge huge expenses. He wonder if the minister discussed this with his counterpart of the navy. The navy was now building steam flotilla vessels which would be used in the Dutch territorial waters and in the colonies! He expected that vessels with a double use would be more expensive and in many ways inefficient. So if the minister of colonies intended to built some of these vessels he would like to hear this to be able to value future plans of the minister of navy. The minister of colonies knew that Ter Brugge Hugenholtz was interested in the navy and supplied more details There were in the Dutch East Indies 3 small ships with a shallow draught of djati wood built of a design which was expected to full fill all he needs in the colony and which was already proved. The engines were built in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands were as an experiment two ships of iron built with a very swallow draught comparable in some manner with the ships built by Rennie at London for the Spanish government on the Philippines for the war against Annam. In stead of a screw the Dutch vessels were fitted out with paddles, thicker hull plates to obtain a longer service and instead of none rigging some rigging to be used in emergency or with a favourable wind. Finally was as an experiment a small steamship built of steel to be used as patronesses (kruisboot). The results of these experiments were awaited especially for the iron built ships. If successful could the number of civil schooners and the number of dug-out canoes (in the meantime increased to 70) be decreased. This plan was expensive and influenced the positive balance.
Notes
1. Jan Jacob Rochussen (23 October 1797 Etten-21 January 1871 The Hague) who had been governor general of the Dutch Easy Indies. between 1845 and 1852.
2. Isaac Theodorus Ter Bruggen Hugenholtz 28 May 1801 IJsselstein-25 January 1871
Liberal politician and supporter of Thorbecke. Navy officer who resigned in in 1845 the rank of lieutenant 1st class. Since 1846 merchant at Dokkum becoming in the same year member of the local government, then of the provincial government and between 1849 and 1865 parliament member with as speciality naval affairs and between 1865 and 1871 member of the Council of State.
Source
Handelingen Tweede Kamer 1859-1860 meeting 25 november 1859. Discussion dealing with the positive balance of the colonial budget over 1857.
