PURCHASE OF 100-TON GUNS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 140, 11 June 1878, Page 4

PURCHASE OF 100-TON GUNS

[From the " Daily News," April 7.]

It has been known for a fortnight past that the Government was in treaty with Bir William Armstrong for the purchase of four 100-ton "guns, which are near completion at El-wick, but it was consiJered prudent lo keep the negotiations pecre', as there were other bidders in the European market for the monster weapons. Arrangements are now completed by which these four guns have become the property of the British nation, and in the course of two or three months lhey will be ready for mounting on board any ship that is prepared to carry them. It is not likely, however that they will be placed on shipboard for some time, for the naval authorities have made no provision for them, neither does it appear that the present condition of naval armaments exhibits any demand for such mighty ordnance. The chief argument for their acquirement was the apprehension that they might become the property of another Power, and so enable it to dominate the seas At present although Italy has 100-too gutiß for her two latest war ships, and England has ready her 80-ton guns for tbe Inflexible, there is no armour afloat which can resist the 35-ton and 38-ton " Woolwich Infants," which have during the laat few years been produce! at the Royal Gun Factories, and employed in the national defences by land and sea. The subject has fully engaged the attention of the Government, and the desirability of manufacturing something heavier than the 80-ton gun has been strongly advocated ; but while foreign nations pbte their ships with anything less than 19£ inches of iron, they are regarded as at the mercy of the 800-lb Palliser bolt from the 38---ton gun, and the authorities have hesitated about taking a step still further in advance. The reflection, however, that the Inflexible, the toughest ship afloat, with its 24 inches of iron arrhor would be defenceless against the 100---ton guns which Italy possesses, and aome other power might have possessed, has now induced the Government to conclude tbe present purohase, and furthermore to consider whether they should stop at this point. It is pretty well authenticated that the Italians have provided themselves with a steel-plated target which even their 100-ton guns cannot penetrate, and that they are preparing a ship which shall be defended with this identical armour. Iv view of this circumstance, aud -knowing tbat it will take less time to plate a ahip than to build a g un , the War Department is deliberating upon the production of a much more powerful piece of artillery, and it is expected that an order will be given before long to tbe Koyal Gun Factories for a gun of over 200 tons. The drawings for such a weapon were prepared long since, the machinery is all prepared for making it, and all tbat is wanting is the order to proceed. Such a gun would throw a shot of some three tons weight, and pierce three feet of solid armor. It would, however, take two years to make, and perhaps another year for experiments, but the building of a ship wbich would have a chance, even with the guns of the present day, would take at least as long.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Wellington Chronicle tells the following story •— A remarkable death in a horse-trough took place last week in Hotham. About half-past five m the morning a boy heard a splash, and looking round saw a woman, who had just before passed him, and looked in his face, in a hotel water-trough. He called to a man, and the woman was lifted out-, frothihg at the mouth and clenching her hand, but never breathed after. All attempts to restore animation failed. Prom evidence at the inquest it appeared that the deceased was Bertha Gilmer, 30 years of age, who kept a small shop, and was addicted to drinkiug, A wonderful case of mistaken identity occurred in connection with the identification of this woman's body, whereby it was claimed by a man as that of his sister. After weeping at his sister's death, and dying under such circumstances, he went, accompanied by a policeman, to where he understood his sister was last known to reside, and dn knocking at the door it was opened by the very sister in the flesh. The mutual surprise may be better 'magined than described.

The writer of the articles on the Civil Service, in the Otago Daily Times, in his concluding paper alludes to the subject of hypothecation of salaries which appears to prevail to a large extent. He says :— " In this connection we may notice one thing which encourages improvidence, and, we might almost write, dishonesty, and that is the system of hypothecating salaries. On the last day of the month the Treasury is beset by tradesmen, money lenders, book-makers, billiard-markers, &c, with orders for the salaries of officers, and we believe that these are often given for months in advance, and lodged in the Treasury. No such thing should be allowed. Prima facie it should be taken that anticipation of salary in this way is proof of something being wrong. In fact, the Treasury should not recognise any order for salary unless it be signed not only by the person to whom the salary is payable, but,by the head of his department also. Heads of departments should be instructed not to countersign any such order without a full explanation of the circumstance which renders it necessary for the officer to give security over his pay."

A strange story is related in connection with the mysterious death of tha ex-mayor of Sandhurst, who had come to Melbourne on husiness, and was missed from his hotel, and whose body was found in the Yarra a day or two afterwards with his watch chain and £60 in his pockets intact. Says the Independent: A peculiar circumstance has been reported to us hy a gentleman in Sandhurst who has known Mr Neill for many yetrs past. The particulars wer« related on Tuesday night, nearly twenty-four hours before the telegram was received from Melbourne announcing his death. The gentleman informed us (the conversation having arisen out of th» question, ' Have you seen Mr Neill lately V) that early Jon (Monday morning he had dreamt, and saw in a vision the deceased gentleman, dressed in similar attire to that in wbich he appeared on Easter Monday last, when he tv ith the other councillors at the Sandhurst railway station assembled to conduct the Governor to tbe Camp Beserve to open the Easter Fair. Mr Neill appeared to he standing looking towards a stream of water, and the time early morning, the first rays of the sun, not yet in sight above the horizon, causing the water to shine out distinctly. Where he stood the ground seemed to be flat, and covered with grass. The grass, too, was wet from dew, aad the rays fof light reflected from the dewy surface showed plainly threefourths of his body, leaving the head and shoulders in semidarkness. No particular attention was at the time paid to the dream, the gentleman only considering it one of those chimeras of the brain so common as to be scarcely worth the relating; and it would not have been narrated to us only that on Tuesday evening a vague rumour got ahroad that Mr Neill had unaccountably disappeared. Believers in the supernatural are at liberty to draw whatever conclusion they desire from the above. Unbelievers will consider it a remarkable coincidence.— Chronicle.

" Make hay while the sun shines " is one of the good old mottoes, and is very suggestive of prudence in the whole course of one's life. If you are suffering from severe Rheumatism, Lumbago, Sciatica, Neuralgia, Liveb Complaint, or Gout, get the necessary and unfailing remedies while you may. They are to be had at all Chemists. Ask for " Ghollah's Great Indian Cores, and get a copy of testimonials.— Testimonial Christchurch, 3rd Sept., 1877. Sm,— Having suffered from rheumatic pains for about six years, I was induced to try your Indian Rheumatism Mixture, and took two bottles of it, and I am happy to state got quite cured and am now free from paius and perfectly restored to health. I have pleasure in recommending the use of your mediciues to others suffering from rheumatism.— Yours truly,— E. Potten.