NEW ZEALAND'S ARSENAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 640, 18 October 1909, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S ARSENAL.

;Away up in Auckland there is-what is virtually the New Zealand arsenal—the "big works of the Colonial Ammunition Company, Ltd. To people not familiar with the requirements of this industry; when.-it is-carried on,on the most' approved . modern' lines,' .a; visit to the works is 'instructive.■.'.ln ■ inost': industries, things can. be; done,: On'occasions,.; carelessly— :ch«ap. material may be used-at a;-:pinch, .work .scamped.-1 But there is-nothing .of that sortever,'dreamt of iri' the. works' of the. Colonial Ammunition Company. Tho -making of- one of their cartridges is a succession of precise processes."',';■'" '•" ;. .". ";' '"Yγ."-. ■ First of all, thematerial is,drawn from the most: approved sources. Every ouiice of' stuff that.comes,in to,the works'is,examined by ex-.perts,.and-any not. judged up. to'standard is rejected'.-'-When the cases: are ,'mado,- each is thoroughly tested, aud.again. the slightest, de-..teoted-.flaw counts 'as condemnation.. Then the shells are charged.by hand..ln shot, grades run from No.'l to . No!- 12 V Butj.that does not suffice.- A great authority-.has said that the number of shot is.more important■ than the weight. -In""C.A.C."'cartridges, there is aperfect combination in both numbers and weight of shot to- the, utmost degree'"of precision. ■: The Colonial. Ammunition.- Company, uses.-in addition , to shot of-tho staple or ruling grades, the'.No3. 45, 51, and,6£ so,popu-. lax for'game shooting in England. These numbers are hot to bo had in-,apy!other cartridges sold in the Dominion. ' .'

'•■When the. shot is loaded'and'the. wads are in place,, the oartridgo undergoes another rigor- , ■ ous examination:' It is a'' rule: th'at no possible loophole must be left for mischance.' A company that, makes cartridges'for the. most fas:, .tidious. sportsmen and'rifle-shots can afford.to take no risks/ The C.A.C. takes none.'-. As 'its cartridges ■ are not brought oversea and exposed .to the hazard' of, deterioration inevitablo in a.voyago through 1 the .they.are never stale:; In the shops .they riovef have a. chance to ■ got-'stale':' the demand'- is , too great and. regular.-.- ■■■.[■'. : '. '-~ ~' 3413

.Blovon'.residents of Cambridge,'... who hold :strong anti-vaccination views; ■ have-forwarded a petition .to.the.Government. , They ask for the>,repeal'.of., the', , .Vaccination -Act';.and its amondinents,, and that ; the' mamifachire of :"so.called" calf•;lyra , ph!'bb l discoutiuue'd, and they call : upon 'tho Government' to ■ withdrnw State supportito,vaccination; leaving it in'the samo position as any, other surgical Tho petitioners claim that, the- nnmial' amount of public revenue - appropriated' for-.- vaccination should bo devoted towards the cost of.hospitals -for ..the ■ treatment ..of caiiccr, wluchiwas, becoming so prevalent, and for tlio-education of the public as,to tho causation of tho.disease) its prevention, r.nd cure. '■ , ■," ' ' '■■ 7

, There 'is tp be ..a sale of etook, Including 600 owee; at Pulmerston NoVtU at uoon on Thursday neiu " ... . •■■ ■•■'" -■ , ■ .-■ ■■ • :