WAR MATERIAL FOR NEW ZEALAND (CORRESPONDENCE FROM REAR-ADMIRAL SCOTT WITH REGARD TO OBTAINING).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, H-41

H.—4l

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

WAR MATERIAL FOR NEW ZEALAND (CORRESPONDENCE FROM REAR-ADMIRAL SCOTT WITH REGARD TO OBTAINING).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. J. Ballance, with the Leave of the House.

Bear-Admiral Scott to the Hon. E. Stout. Deab Me. Stout,— Albert Hotel, 27th August, 1885. The enclosed contains the various points which I ventured to bring before you. Finding the paper on which I had drawn out the heads of the various matters amongst some others, instead of being left with you, I re-wrote it, and trust it will be sufficiently clear should you happen to refer to it. The Morris tubes, costing £16, I am to write respecting, to Defence Department. I have, &c, Eobt. A. B. Scott.

1. Cotton powder or tonite, per " Scottish Admiral," now expected in Wellington : Half ton in cartridges, ready for firing; and half ton in cakes, to be made up of any size. 2. Martini-Hanry regulation rifles, latest pattern : Two rifles, with Morris tubes; two carbines, with Morris tubes ; 400 rounds of ammunition, at 2s. 6d. per 100. 3. Cartridge cases for quick-firing guns. Cartridge cases for rifles, fowling-pieces, &c. Bullets for rifles. (To be made in the colony, one factory North and one South.) 4. Morris tubes (with filling-pieces extra to fit 7in. gun, 64-pounder and 12-pounder, price £16) : One large Morris tube for Gatling ammunition, to be fired up to 1,000 yards, and one small tube to be used up to 300 yards. " Aorangi" gun has both tubes. 5. War ammunition carefully preserved. No salutes to be fired. Only good shots with tubes to be gun numbers, and allowed to fire one or two 'large shot per year. 6. Importance of few patterns of guns. Hotchkiss approved by the last Committees, and best for naval purposes. The shoulder-piece for pointing the gun is simpler and quicker in laying it than the elevating and training screws of other quick-firing artillery. 7. Tugs and small steamers for harbour defence, and Union Company's and direct steamers for trade, to be armed with quick-firing guns. Admiralty was prepared to pay half-cost of guns and projectiles for direct steamers, and would probably do the same for Union Company's if asked by New Zealand Government. Importance of training sea-faring population, as tending to increase loyalty and patriotism. • 8. The 1-pounder Hotchkiss shell-gun very destructive to torpedo-boats. Bullets hardened will penetrate them. 9. Open boats, built in the colony, from £150 to £250, according to size required, with engines costing from £250 to £350, would be serviceable as torpedo-boats. 10. Torpedoes, automatic, can now be dropped across a harbour, and take up any required depth in half an hour, blocking all ingress and egress. 11. Quick-firing guns excellent. Maxim is adding greatly increased quickness of fire. Cost to be the same. 12. Unsettled state of heavy-gun manufacture. Wire over breech now admitted to be the best construction. Recent Committee thereon. 13. Heavy guns in colony sufficient for defence. One Bin. might be added at Laywer's Head, Dunedin; two or one, Lyttelton ; two or one, Wellington ; two or one, Auckland : say, six 8-inch guns for forts already built; no new constructions. Whether Admiralty would not take the balance of heavy guns and stores ordered. Maintenance will otherwise be a burdensome charge on colonial industries. The climate of Otago and water well suited for the manufacture of tonite to supply New Zealand and Australia. One Southern factory required for turning out cartridge cases and ammunition. Cost, &o.| to be at once made up on my return to Dunedin. [Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, £ ; printing (1,225 copies), 15s.]

By Authority : Geobgb Didsbuky, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.