RED JERSEY APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 7

RED JERSEY APPEAL

HOW MONEY-SHELLS ARE MADE. The material of which a Eed Jersey money-sheil is composed and tho method of manufacture were demonstrated at the ceremony of firing the first shot for the Blue Artillery by the Mayor on Friday last. This was a .£2500 shell, and was fired at fairly short range, necessitating a short fuse. The chairman of the Citizens' Committee, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, read' out the list of main ingredionts, which were supplied by tho following citizens and firms in the quantities noted :-Mi\ and Mrs. Eric lliddiford, .E500; Bank of New Zealand (first contribution), .£250; Bank of New Zealand (second contribution), ,£100; Mr. Vivian lliddiford, £250 S' Wellington Woollen Company, <£250; \Kirkcaidle and Stains, .£250; Levin and Co., £U; Mr. C. B. Smith, £100; Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, .£100; Magnus, Sanderson and Co., .£100; Messrs. Macky, Logan, and Caldwell, Wellington contribution, ,£IOO. These sums may be described as the shrapnel bullets. Packed firmly about them, and holding them in place, were many smaller 'sums. The result was a beautiful burst, right over tho targetnot a penny was spilt, everything went clean into the Bed Jersey Appeal Fund. All doubts as to whether the Wairarapa long-range gun would be able to throw its shell over the >anges into Wellington have been sot at rest. The shell, a .£IO.OOO one, is roporled to have risen into the heavens to a height of two miles and it landed in Wellington a few minutes after Mr. Lake oad given tho.order "Fire!" to the gunner at the Blue gun »t the Bank of Now Zealand. This big shell was a high explosive, and the report of its coming had the efteeiof scattering the onlookers rnd setting them to work to make an -even bigger shell with which to reply to the challenge of Wairarapa. The strategic position occupied by Wadestow'n, witn the Traakons on one hand and Baivnrrc. Gorge on the other, has made it imperative that a battery of quick-firers should be established thero by the Blue Amy. This matter will be attended to to-night, when Mr. F Wiffen, of Wadestown, will address a-'meeting in St. Luke's Schoolroom at 8 o'clock. Mr. ]?. Basoy, the Bed Jersoy organiser, will also bo present to explain the rules of the game.