GUN FIRING AND TORPEDO PRACTICE AT THE FORTS.

New Zealand Mail, 11 August 1892, Page 34

GUN FIRING AND TORPEDO PRACTICE AT THE FORTS.

A display of the firing of heavy guns and mine explosions took plaoe on Saturday morning at the defences along the southern side of the harbour, in the presence of a goodly number of visitors from the city. The Ellen JBallanca made two trips, and on the last occasion took over Lady Glasgow, the Hon Mr Boyle, Miss Hallowes, Mr B. Clayton, the Hon R. Seddon and Miss Seddon, Hon Mr and Mrs Ward, Mrs Ballance, Mrs W. P. Reeves, Colonel Fox, Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, LieutenantColonel Newall, and several members of the House of Representatives, and others. After the launch had landed the party at Fort Ballance, she steamed out to the middle of the harbour, after which firing was commenced from Fort Ballance and Kau Point, at three floating targets to the south of Ward Island, and about 3000 yards from the former fort. After three or four rounds from the Nordenfeldt, the 6in disappearing gun at the fort was fired. This was followed by the Sin at the Point, each of them firing alternately. Three rounds of shot and one of shell were fired, the shooting being remarkably close. The operations at the fort were under the direction of Colonel Fox, and those at the Point under Major Meas?nger. At the conclusion of the firing the Ellen Ballance returned to the landing near the fort to convey those who wished to return to Shelly Bay, but the majority of the visitors, including Lady Glasgow and party, preferred to walk across the hill to the bay, where arrangements had been made by Captain Falconer for a display of submarine and land mine explosions. An old whale boat, rigged as a brigantine, was towed over four mines, and on Lady Glasgow pressing the electric key from an improvised shelter on shore the explosion took place, blowing the side out of the boat and throwing up a column of water some hundreds of feet high, the effeot being very fine. Immediately afterwards a contact mine was exploded with still greater effect, the water rising up in a magnificent column, higher than the neighbouring hill. The party then embarked on the launch, and when at a safe distance, at a signal from Captain Falconer, the laud mine wa3 ex. ploded with startling effect, a great volume of earth and rubbish being lifted from its bed and thrown into the air, the force of the explosion being seen after in the showers of stones and earth that fell at a radius of at least 600yds from the scene. The party got back to town about 2 o’clock, having enjoyed the day’s outing very much, and thoroughly impressed with the very effective means adopted by the Government for the defence of the city.