TWO OLD GUNS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 295, 26 September 1935, Page 4

TWO OLD GUNS

A MYSTERIOUS HISTORY.

JOHNSON VILLE'3 CAIIHONADES.

Lying half-buried in the soil and grass at the side of the Johnsonville football ground are two ancient cannon, together with an iron carriage. The spot .where they lie overlooks paid of the new Khaudallali-Johnsonville Road.

On closer inspection, it can be seen that one bears the date 1812, and the inscription “Carrou.” Both aro stamped with a crown, and a monogram carrying the letters and figure “G3R,” denoting that they were cast in the reign ol George 111. (1760-1820). They are in a remarkable state of preservation.

A mystery surrounds their appearance at Johnsonville —no one in the town appears to know when or by whom they were transported to their present resting place. It has been said that they were obtained 1 soon after the South African War, but they certainty were not used in that conflict because they arc muzzle-loaders, and 1 at the time of that war would have been upwards of 90 years old. When permission was recently asked lor their removal as scrap-iron to Japan, it uas not granted. Tiro guns are of a type known as the caMuriatic, which was used in the British Navy from 1779 until about 1810. This piece of ordnance was invented by General Robert Melville in 1759, and on its adoption by the Navy 20 years iater received its name from the'famous Canon foundry in Stirlingshire, Scotland, where it was made. The carronado had a powder chamber like many of the earliest guns known, and was similar to a mortar. Destructive at close quatrers, it was short and light, and had a limited range. The first carronado was cast by Mr Gascoigne. The guns woie added to the existing long guns. A 3S-gitn frigate carried ten earrorrades, but her official classification in the naval lists was not so that British ships always carried more pieces that they were described as carrying. French anti American ships adopted the carronade alter some time. Carrolludes were made to throw balls of from oto 68 pounds. The markings of the two at Johnsonville show them to he 24-pounders. As they were not officially listed, and were light and comparatively easy to handle, guns of this type were often landed from ships of war to take part in land 1 expeditions. The gun on Mount Victoria closely conforms to this type, as does its carriage. It is probable that the history of these guns prior to their appearance at Johnsonville is a naval one.