Whilst in command of the British troops in Hong Kong Major-General Sir Bevan Edwards had been directed by the Home Government to proceed to Australia and advise the colonial authorities regarding the forces they had organised for the purposes of defence. The most important of his recommendations were that a uniform system of organization should prevail for the land forces of all the Australian Colonies, and that they should be placed under one authority. As a further measure for insuring rapid concentration at any point, it was suggested that railway gauges should be alike throughout the country.