IMPORTANT TO MARKSMEN.

Evening Star, Issue 7320, 19 September 1887, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO MARKSMEN.

[Special to the Star.]

WANGANUI, September 16. The Executive of the New Zealand Rifle Association will meet at Wellington on Wednesday next, if the Blenheim representatives can get across, to arrange the programme and finally settle the matter of rifles. The Remington-Lee rifles are ex. peoted by the Zealandia, now due at Auckland. In a letter received by the Hon. «T. Ballance, Mr Whitney, manufacturer of ammunition, Auckland, who is now in England, says :—"I have the honor of informing you that having visited all the principal cartridge factories in America, with a view of improving our colonial manufacture, I have come to the conclusion that we cannot do better than adopt the machinery now in use at the Royal Gun Factories, Woolwich Arsenal. These machines are all manufactured by Greenwood and Btitley, of Leeds, for the Government; and you will be glad to hear they have entered into partnership with us, and are under contract to supply all the machinery we may require from time to time. A large number of machines are already in hand, and are to be delivered before the end of the year. My son informed me that no less than seven kinds of Snider, all taking various sized cartridges, are found to be in use in Ni w Zealand, and under these circumstances I am advised by experts iu cartridge man a facture that a solid drawn brass case with a boxer base will be the most suitable, and have provided machines for that purpose. It is the intention of the firm to open a branch factory in Victoria if our terms are agreed to, which seems most likely to be the case. Will you permit me to advise a few months' delay before ordering any fresh rifles. The Lee, which I sent out for trial, is the favored action, but the bullet and cartridge are still undecided. The Hotchkiss is the same action. All agree that it will be a small-bore and have the ruben bullet, which is coated with some kind of metal to prevent fouling in rapid firing. Copper is against the ' convention' nickel—very hard to work, and aluminum is on trial; but I think steel will carry the day, its only drawback being the possibility of rust. Sir H. Haiford, the president of the Small Arms Committee appointed by the Government to report on the rifles, etc., now under consideration for adoption in the British service, informed me that you might take it for granted that the cartridge of the future will be 303 or 307, not larger. The manufacture will be a little more expensive, but the results are so extraordinary—beyond anything in use—that that is a minor consideration. I hoped to have been back in New Zealand before this, but cannot be home now until Christmas."