N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7955, 20 January 1888, Page 2

N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

■Wellington, Thursday. Captain Somerville, chairman of $he ■ New Zealand Rifle Association, arrived in Wellington from Wanganui last night, mid had an interview to-day with the Defence Minister in reference to the Martini-Henry rifles for the next meeting of the association at Oaraaru, and in reference also to the guarantee asked from the assoriation by tha Government for a third of the post of obtaining 300 of the rifles. Captain Somerville explained that 300 rifles would not bo sufficient, as ho fully expected 350 competitors on tho ground at the end of February-, and at his request tho Government have wired to Sydney to ascertain whether an additional fifty rifles can be secured. The reply is not expected before to-morrow. Unless the extra number is obtained Captain Someryillo considers it possible that the association will have to revert to the Sniders, and nse last year's programme. He ■is opposed to this conrse owing to the faulty manufacture of Kynock's ammunition used tor this weapon, but to-day he was assured by Maior-Gcneral Whitmore that in all probability a better .sample of Kynock's ammunition may beobtained than.: was . issued at the Christchnrch meeting. Captain Soraerviile; however, expresses a i"! iiopo that, should the New South Wales Government not be in a position to supply. , the necessary number of Martini-Henrys lie may be jjWinto borrow a. sufficient: nambcr rf 'those! 'rifles to make up the

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i fall complement in order to carry out •j this year's programme. With regard to &■ . the guarantee a^ked by the Government, Captain Somerville has given his personal guarantee for £300, ana has promised a farther guarantee of £250 after the meeting in Oainaru ; , -the balance to be arranged after the meeting, in 1889. The chairman is confident that he will be able to dispose of most of the Martini-Henry rifles, as he has already had offers from several Volunteer corps to take a certain number off his hands. Before assenting. to the guarantee Captain Somerville asked the Minister for Defence if it was the intention of the Government to arm the Volunteers with a newclass of weapon, because if that was contemplated the association would have the Martini-Henrys thrown on their hands, as it would bo found necessary at future meetings to use the new arm issued to Volunteers generally. Mr Fergus repliei that it was not intended to get any mew class of weapon for the Volunteers, nor did he think it likely that it would be done for some years. Should the Martini-Henry rifle be used at the next meeting the number of rounds of ammunition imported with the rifles will be 100,000, and as the ammunition costs some £5 per thousand the association will be at great outlay, but they expect to be well recouped by the sale of the ammunition to competitors, and also to those who purchase tic rifles. With respect to the Bemington-Lee rifle all those on issue. (320) are to be called in, and the Government will probably take back the ammunition that has not been used at the same W- Price as it was issued. It is understood \ ' that the Government intend to ask the manufacturers of the Remington-Lee rifles, and also those of the ammunition, to take back the rifles and the unused cartridges at a small discount, as it ia thought they could be sold in the United States.^ Captain_ Somerville denies that the Rifle Association is responsible for the importation of the Remington-Lee rifle, and states that from the first he ■wished to obtain Martini-Henrys, but the Defence Minister in the late Government held the opinion that they were becoming obsolete, and stated that his Government were importing the latest improvement, which was the Remingtonlee.