CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO COST OF CONVERTING SMOOTH-BORE INTO RIFLED GUNS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, G-13

G.— No. 13.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO COST OF CONVERTING SMOOTH-BORE INTO RIFLED GUNS.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1871.

G.—No. 13.

No. 1. Mr. J. Morrison- to the Hon. D. McLean. Office of the Now Zealand Government Agency, Sib, — 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, London, E.C., 29th June, 1871. Having been favoured by Major Palliscr with copy of a letter addressed by him to the AgentGeneral for Victoria, respecting the conversion by his process of smooth-bore into rifled guns, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the same, as it may prove of interest to the Government. With reference to Major Palliser's remarks r.s to the probability of procuring guns, carriages, and platforms from the Imperial Government for the purpose of conversion, I beg to state that, having had an interview with the Controller of the Eoyal Arsenal at Woolwich on the subject, I am led to understand that the guns specially alluded to by Major Palliser, with their carriages and platforms, cannot be supplied by the Imperial Government. I have, <fcc, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, JonN Moreisoit. Wellington, New Zealand. Enclosure in No. 1. Major Pallisek to the Hon. G. Vebdon, C.B. Sib,— Army and Navy Club, 17th May, 1871. With reference to your letter 4605-71, of the Bth instant, I have the honor to inform you that the cost of converting 68-pounder and 32-pounder cast-iron guns respectively into 7-inch, and G'3-inch (61-pounder) rifled guns, would be as follows, for fifty guns of each nature : — Conversion of 68-pounder into 7-inch gun ... ... £195 Conversion of 32-pounder into 63-inch gun ... ... £130 To this must be added the costs of sights and sighting, £8 10s. each gun, and the cost of proof by Government, which I understand from Major Scratchley, E.E., is £8 9s. 6d. for the 7-inch, and £6 11s. 7d. for the 6 3-inch gun.* I have been informed at the War Office, that in the event of the Government of Victoria making application for the purchase of cast-iron guns for purposes of conversion, they would probably be supplied at £5 per ton. This price is just one-fourth of that which the Home Government originally paid for these guns. This very low price is caused by the fact of there being at present more cast-iron guns in store than are likely to be required for purposes of conversion by the Home Government. I also understand that there are excessive numbers of wooden carriages and platforms in store, and that these would probably be supplied to the Government at Victoria at half their cost price. The original cost of wooden garrison carriages, complete, with beds and elevating screws, is £47 18s. for 68-pounders of 95 cwt., and £43 15s. for 32-poundcrs of 56 cvvt. The cost of the dwarf traversing platform for either nature of gun is £63 11s. Thus the cost of a 7-inch rifled gun complete, with carriage and platform, delivered at Woolwich would be — £ s. d. Cast-iron casing, 95 cwt. at ss. per cwt. ... ... 23 12 6 Conversion ... ... ... ... ... 195 0 0 Sights and sighting ... ... ... ... 8 10 0 Proof ... ... ... ... ... 8 9 6 Carriage by rail from Woolwich to Newcastle and back ... 24 0 0 Total cost of 7-inch gun of 5 tons weight ... £259 12 0 Carriage (wood garrison), half-price ... ... ... 23 19 0 Dwarf traversing platform, half-price ... ... ... 31 15 6 Total cost of gun, carriage, and platform ... ... £315 6 G It is probable that an arrangement could be made for sending 68-pounders by sea from Woolwich to Newcastle and back, in which case the cost of transit would be reduced to £9, and consequently the * Cost of conversion, inclusive of proof and sighting, 7-inch gun ... ... ... £211 19 6 Cost of conversion, inclusive of proof and sighting, 6'3-inch gun ... ... 145 1 7

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO COST OF CONVERTING SMOOTH-BORE INTO RIFLED GUNS.

G —No. 13

4

CONVERTING SMOOTH-BORE INTO MFLED GUNS.

cost of the gun would be reduced to £244 125., and that of the gun, carriage, and platform to £300 6s. 6d. The coat of the 63-inch (64-pounder) rifled guns would be as follows: — £ s. d. Cast-iron casing, 56 cwt. at ss. per cwt. ... ... .14 0 0 Conversion ... ... ... ... ... 130 0 0 Sights and sighting ... ... ... ..'. 8 10 0 Proof ... ... ... ... ... 6 11 6 Freight from Woolwich to Newcastle and back ... ... 600 Total cost 6-3-inch (64-pounder) gun of 61 cwt. ... £165 1 6 Carriage (wood garrison), half-price ... ... ... 21 17 6 Dwarf traversing platform, half-price ... ... 31 15 6 Total cost of 63-inch gun, carriage, and platform, delivered at Woolwich ... ... ... ... £218 14 6 I request you will have the goodness to call the attention of the Government of Victoria to the fact of the above being remarkable bargains, which afford great advantages. In conclusion, I beg to inform you that 100 converted rifled guns, complete, could be supplied within five months of the receipt of the order. I have, &c. W. Pallisee, The Hon. George Verdon, C.8., &c. Major unattached.