A NOTABLE MAN

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1921, Page 1

A NOTABLE MAN

RETURN OF MAJOR JOHN WHITNEY.

Major Joint Whitney and -Miss Whi

n«y are among the passengers arriving I by R.M.S. Corinthic at Wellington on Monday. March 14th. Major Whitney is returning to New Zealand after an absence in England, Scotland, and Ireland of about two years. .Major Whitney enjoyed some excellent covert shooting in the South ol England, and his last shoot at Tielihorne Park, Dorsetshire, seven guns, resulted in a mixed bag of <5-13 birds, including pheasants, partridges, woodcork, Imres and four sundries. At one drive, the guns were posted sixty yards from Lite covert and the birds were Hying very high down wind. Major Whitney, who was using two guns with a keeper to load for him, dropped lourleoii birds tired at, and the fifteenth was picked up dead some distance behind the line after the drive had finished. 'This was a wonderful performance for a mail of 8(5 years of age. While in England, Major Whitney completed the purchase of the Colonial Ammunition Company’s New Zealand works and business. This will in Inure be carried oil by bis own Company vliich will be known as the Colonial \mmunition Company, New Zealand, Ad. It will be remembered that Major Yhitney started the ammunition industry in New Zealand in 1884-5, thiriyix years ago. This was the date ot the (ussiaii war scare. In 1887 lie turned

bis industry into a company, and alter a peiiod of thirty-six years he lias repurchased the works amL business, and his new company will he composed ol himself and shareholders residing in New Zealand.

During -Major John \\ liitney s stay in England, the United Service Club, Pall Mall, London, made him a life member of the club as an acknowledgment of his services to the Empiie, fust iu starting his ammunition industry in New Zealand in 1884-5, and subsequently by valuable work done in the Boer War "and the Great War iu regard to the supply of war material. Without “C.A.C.” cartridges V would have been nearly impossible to send troops from New Zealand and Australia to these wars, because 303 .Mark V | was the only ammunition, that could lie used in the New Zealand and Australian Julies, and no other rifles "etc available. In the Great War the British forces, on the other hand, "etc armed with rifles taking the .303 Mark VII cartridge, and it was those that were so urgently required during the first eighteen months or two years of the contest. The two ammunition lactories at Auckland and Melbourne were kept going at top speed to prevent a failure in tin* supply ol ammunition required for the New Zealand and Australian troops. Towards tho latter part of the war, when there was an abundant supply of Mark Yll available, troops from the Dominion and the Commonwealth were ariued with the title to take .303 Maik Yll cartridges. Moreover, largo quantities of metal made from Australian minerals at the Colonial Ammunition Company’s roller and refining mill*, were sent to England to assist in turning out small-arms ammunition, there bcftig a considerable shortage in England at the time.

Before leaving for England two years ago, Major John Whitney sold his home at Waiwera ,a most picturesque property,- some thirty miles from Auckland, where* he lmcl resided for over thirty years. In future he will live in Auckland.