APPENDIX.
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APPENDIX.
I.
NEW ZEALAND STATISTICS.
THE noble colony of New Zealand was suffering in 1872-73, not from want of food or fuel, but from a want of labour to develop its great resources; its fertile soil requires hands to cultivate it, its flocks and herds require shepherds and herdsmen, its minerals require men to dig for them.
The New Zealand colonists are offering passages that will cost a good labourer no more on an average than his contribution of £5: whilst emigrant agents in England are trying to entice our workmen to Brazil, to the Argentine Kepublic, and even to Paraguay, a finer field for our people is offered, and better prospects of success are to be had, in the Britain of the south, New Zealand.
When the colony was in a disturbed state an extensive system of emigration could not be expected to be carried out towards it; but peace has reigned now for a considerable time, and no apprehension is to be entertained of interruption to the labours of the agriculturist or busi-
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ness of the trader. Post-office savings' banks and assurance offices in the colony are doing a large amount of business.
The Maoris, our late enemies, are making money, either cultivating their own lands or letting farms to white settlers at fair rents, or engaging themselves for the charge of flocks and herds.
Times seem to be entirely changed with them since the period when the writer was in New Zealand, and on one occasion, in the absence of Sir Gore Browne, was acting as Governor of the Colony. Then the anxiety of the Maoris to fight was great; so much so that a Maori came into Auckland with a bag of 300 gold pieces, collected among his people, and offered them to a trader for 600 boxes of copper caps-- 10s. a box; usual value 1s. 6d. Fortunately the bargain was not allowed to be concluded, and the Maori carried back his sovereigns. The money would now be laid out in a very different manner.
The European population may now amount to a quarter of a million; Maoris, say 40,000: 7,000 emigrants landed in 1872. Government land is sold by auction, at prices varying from 5s. to 40s. an acre. In the province of Auckland alone there are seventeen millions of acres; eleven millions of these still belong to the natives, and three millions to Government. "As beef and mutton can walk into market, they are more popular with the farmer than the more expensive transport of wheat." Agricultural wages are 5s. a day, or 15s. a week, with shelter and rations.
The bulk of the wool comes from the south island, where there are no Maoris, but a few employed as shepherds and cattle tenders.
The gold of New Zealand has been a great attraction
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since 1860; it was then found in the south island, and worked. In 1868 the Thames gold-field, in the north island, was proved the richest in the colony. In the year ended on the 31st December, 1871, gold to the value of £1,888,708 was exported from Auckland, and the wages of a working miner were 50s. a week. In the south island the gold-fields of Westland have been thriving; they have sent home since 1860 about £6,500,000.
Coal is also abundant about the Waikato, &c, and was of great service during the war for the steamers.
From returns kindly furnished me by Falconer Larkworthy, Esq., managing director in London of the Bank of New Zealand, I find that, in the European population, the average for twelve years was one birth to every twenty-four and a half, and one death to every seventy-nine persons.
Shipping in 1871:--
Vessels inwards .............. 729
Tonnage.................. 274,643
Vessels outwards .............. 709
Tonnage.................. 265,618
Imports in 1871, in value ............£4,078,193
Exports „ „ ............£5,282,084
The Customs Revenue was ............ £731,883
General Revenue, ordinary and territorial......£1,299,371
The General Government Debt was ........£5,493,316
Of the Banks, total Capital paid up .. .. £4,281,529 16s. 6d.
Postal Revenue was............ £70,249 19s. 7d.
The first telegraph was established under the direction of Colonel Gamble, C.B., Deputy Quartermaster-General, in 1863, and was exceedingly well worked by Lieut. Burton, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, and his assistants, Corporal Brodie, K.E., and 2nd Corporal
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Butcher, R.E. In December, 1871, the telegraph stations numbered seventy-one, and the number of miles of lines was 2,015.
Criminal Statistics.--The convictions in 1871 were 11,806, but many of the convictions were for drunkenness (4,751), and not for serious offences.
Meteorology.--At Wellington, the capital, Cook's Straits, in the cold month of May, mean temperature, 64 deg; in the hot month of December, 72 deg;. No extremes of heat or cold, and showing the excellence of the climate. Rainfall, 64 inches; and at Auckland, 47 inches. Snow at Dunedin, 4 inches.
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II.
NUMERICAL RETURN showing the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the various Corps serving in NEW ZEALAND killed, wounded, and died of wounds in engagements with, or ambuscade of, the insurgent Maoris, from 1st January, 1863, to 15th February, 1866.
|
|
Killed.
|
|
Wounded.
|
|
Died of Wounds.
|
|
Total Deaths from Wounds in Action.
|
| Corps.
|
Officers.
|
Non-commissioned Officers and Men.
|
Officers.
|
Non-commissioned Officers and Men.
|
Officers.
|
Non-commissioned Officers and Men.
|
Total Deaths from Wounds in Action.
|
| Royal Engineers
|
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
1
|
2
|
| Royal Artillery
|
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
|
6
|
| Military Train
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
| 1st Batt. 12th Regt.
|
1
|
5
|
|
24
|
|
2
|
8
|
| 2nd Batt. 14th Regt.
|
|
7
|
6
|
22
|
2
|
2
|
11
|
| 2nd Batt. 18th Regt.
|
|
12
|
1
|
44
|
1
|
7
|
20
|
| 40th Regiment
|
|
18
|
3
|
42
|
2
|
4
|
24
|
| 43rd Regiment
|
5
|
17
|
7
|
43
|
3
|
6
|
31
|
| 50th Regiment
|
1
|
16
|
3
|
28
|
|
1
|
18
|
| 57th Regiment
|
2
|
12
|
1
|
36
|
|
4
|
18
|
| 65th Regiment
|
1
|
20
|
8
|
49
|
1
|
4
|
26
|
| 68th Regiment
|
|
5
|
4
|
41
|
|
4
|
9
|
| 70th Regiment
|
1
|
8
|
2
|
16
|
|
|
9
|
| Medical Staff
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
| Total Imperial Forces to 31st Dec. 1865
|
12
|
127
|
38
|
353
|
10
|
35
|
184
|
| Royal Naval Brigade
|
3
|
13
|
7
|
34
|
1
|
1
|
18
|
| Colonial Forces
|
3
|
15
|
7
|
30
|
3
|
4
|
25
|
| Total 1st Jan. 1863 to 31st Dec. 1855
|
18
|
155
|
52
|
417
|
14
|
40
|
227
|
| 1866, to 15th Feb.:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 14th Regiment
|
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
|
2
|
4
|
| 43rd Regiment
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
| 50th Regiment
|
|
l
|
|
2
|
|
|
1
|
| 57th Regiment
|
|
5
|
1
|
11
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
| Colonial Forces
|
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
|
|
1
|
| Total killed and wounded 688
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total
|
18
|
164
|
56
|
450
|
15
|
44
|
247
|
The Regular Troops in New Zealand were:--On 1st June, 1863 . . . 5245.
On 1st August, 1865 . . 10,047.
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III.
RETURN of MAORIS killed, wounded, and prisoners, in 1863-4-5.
| Engagement.
|
English strength.
|
Maoris.
|
Killed.
|
Wounded.
|
Prisoners
|
| Katikara
|
771
|
not known
|
28
|
not known
|
|
| Keri Keri
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
| Koheroa
|
284 (engaged)
|
400
|
40
|
|
|
| Stone Depot
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
| Keri Keri
|
143
|
|
several
|
|
|
| Paparoa (reconnoissance)
|
|
|
some
|
|
|
| Merimeri
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
| Great South Koad (ambuscade on)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
| Pokino
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
| Cameron
|
|
|
several
|
|
|
| Razor Back
|
|
|
several
|
|
|
| Pukekohe
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
| Poutoko (ambuscade)
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
| Galloway Eedoubt
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
| Wairoa
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
| Poutoko
|
|
|
not known
|
|
|
| Attack on Sergeant Johnson
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
| Mauku
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
| Rangariri
|
1000
|
600 or 700
|
41
|
|
183
|
| Waeari
|
|
|
37
|
|
2
|
| Rangiawhia
|
|
|
12
|
|
12
|
| Huerini
|
800
|
over 500
|
56
|
|
|
| Kaitaki
|
|
|
not known
|
|
|
| Orakau
|
800
|
450
|
127
|
|
7
|
| Maungatautari
|
|
|
|
|
30 (surrendered)
|
| Gate Pah
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
| Te awa o te atua
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
| Moutoa
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
| Te Rangi
|
530
|
500
|
108
|
|
43
|
| Manutahi
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
| Nukumaru
|
600 (engaged)
|
600
|
70
|
|
|
| Kakaramea
|
|
|
20
|
|
5
|
| Opunaki
|
|
|
3
|
1
|
|
| Warea
|
|
|
17
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
747
|
1
|
300
|
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From the above it appears that in the operations between the 4th of June, 1863, and 4th of August, 1865, the Maoris lost in killed at least 1,000 men, and in prisoners 300. How many were wounded is not known, but the number must have been at least five times greater than the killed. On the British side the proportion was much larger. Here we have at once over 6,000, and so a statement that there were never more than 2,000 men against the British is quite incorrect.
The killed and wounded in the Waitara campaign, or in General Chute's operations, are not given, but the numbers must have been large. There were also fights with the friendly natives, in which the insurgents had losses. 10,000 men for the Maoris is perhaps nearer the truth than 2,000 warriors.
NOTE. --It must be remembered that the troops had on nearly all occasions to attack the Maoris in selected positions strongly intrenched, the flanks always secure, and thus having to move on a very narrow front, no advantage could be made of superior numbers. The British states show the whole force; but when we deduct escorts, guards, sick, wounded, &c. &c, it is well known that two-thirds of the total strength is the most that can be calculated on for fighting.
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IV.
CRITICISMS ON THE SERVICES OF THE MILITARY IN NEW ZEALAND.
IT is very unfortunate that an author and traveller of the distinguished ability of Mr. Anthony Trollope, in his work, "Australia and New Zealand," deceived by false information, speaks so slightingly of the British forces who were employed in the arduous and harassing duties of the service in New Zealand. We certainly did not expect this from our own countryman, and if he will take the trouble to read the narrative of the war from 1860 to 1866, derived from authentic sources, he may alter his sentiments on this subject.
Among other things connected with the war, he says there were 15,000 troops (that is, about 1864), and never more than 2,000 Maoris in arms against us, and that this was the proportion in all the engagements--fifteen to two-- "and yet they were not subdued." Again, 10,000 are stated to be the number of the troops. These loose statements must have emanated from, or originated with, some one jealous of and disparaging the military, who were engaged in fighting the battles of the colonists, and looking for neither plunder, prize-money, nor grants of land --only endeavouring to obey orders, and to do their duty to the best of their ability, whilst "enduring hardness."
Some individuals seemed to take a pleasure, and to lose no opportunity in crying down the services of the regular troops, although the colony owed so much to them, and it was certainly from untrustworthy sources Mr. Trollope derived his information.
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It is utterly impossible for any person to say how many Maoris were engaged against the troops at any given time, as the number was constantly varying. At one time, it is believed, the whole native population were ready to take part against the British, and it was for that reason that so large a reinforcement was applied for from England; and there is little doubt the natives would have risen throughout the north island had they not been deterred by the example made of the Waikatos.
As to the force under Sir Duncan Cameron, with the exception of a company of Forest Rangers, and a troop of mounted Volunteers under Colonel Nixon, who could only be used occasionally on account of the difficulty of foraging them, the regulars were the only troops that could fairly be said to be at the General's disposal for operations in the field, and of them a very considerable number were employed in the transport, commissariat, and other non-combatant departments. The local militia could only be employed within a certain radius (about 15 miles?) from their own settlements, and that only for a few days at a time. The Auckland Militia occupied certain posts in the neighbourhood of the settlement, at the beginning of the war, but took no part in the Waikato campaign. The New Plymouth Militia were an exception, and had some really hard work. As to the Waikato Militia, they arrived in successive detachments a considerable time after the war broke out; they were raised in Melbourne and Sydney, and naturally required a good deal of training before they could be fit to act against the Maoris. A good many were employed in the transport, and when the campaign was over the greater part were gradually paid off.
With regard to the comparative strength of the Maoris and the troops, when it is considered that the Maoris
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occupied the interior of the north island, about as large as England, and could, under cover of the bush, assemble unknown to the troops, and come down at any moment in force upon any one of the settlements, which were all on or near the coast, it is not surprising that a considerable force was necessary, for the double object of protecting those settlements and, at the same time, carrying on operations into the interior; but of course a stranger to the colony cannot be expected to enter into all these matters.
Where the iron heel of war treads it is truly said, "Le pays etait avant sa venue comme le jardin d'Heden; et apres qu'il sera parti il sera comme un desert desole;" so we now trust that the fertile soil of New Zealand will smile with abundant harvests under both British and native cultivators, "the cattle on a thousand hills" be seen, and the glorious evergreen forests of the beautiful kauri pine, the noble rata, rimu and totara trees shading the palm-like tree fern, and nikau will contain no lurking foe --commerce flourishing, peace and plenty prevailing.
For the enterprising Pathfinder we would recommend an exploration and survey of sixty square miles, between Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty; for in preparing the map for this work from a large one of New Zealand, we found a perfect blank in that region; and here may be observed scenes of great interest, good pasture land, hot springs, and if not the living moa, the bones of that gigantic bird, the great Dinornis elephantopus.
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V.
ACCOUNT OF THE ESCAPE OF FIFTY PRISONERS IN WELLINGTON HARBOUR, NEW ZEALAND.
THE escape of fifty Maori prisoners, on the 20th January, 1866, confined in a vessel in Wellington Harbour, may be here related as a very peculiar "incident" of the Maori war, and as it showed great daring and astuteness.
They had been taken at the time the Wereroa pah fell, and were placed on board a timber ship called the Manukau. The vessel had large bow ports, as is usual with timber ships, by which to pass in their freight. The ports had not been used for some time, and were supposed to be securely fastened.
By order of the Governor, the escort (50th Begiment) placed the prisoners on board the Manukau, and remained to guard them; but the vessel did not seem to be in a very fit state for the reception of the prisoners; the deck was lumbered with miscellaneous articles, as pieces of iron, marling-spikes, &c, some of which were thrown into the hold where the prisoners were located, immediately over a quantity of stone ballast, &c. The prisoners were always kept below at night, a sentry being on deck over the hatch.
There was a report some months before the escape that the prisoners meditated an attempt by the bow ports, but the mate of the ship, who lived on board, and the officer in command at the time, did not think that they could possibly effect it.
On the 20th of January, when it was blowing a gale of wind, a heavy sea running, and the night pitch dark, the
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Maoris managed, with the assistance of a screw-key, which they got hold of among the things in the hold, to open one of the bow ports, and before daylight the following morning all but three had gone.
The darkness of the night, and the noise of the wind and sea, prevented the sentry on deck observing or hearing anything; and so cunningly did they effect their object that while the whole arrangement was going on below a single Maori occasionally came up during the night (as they were permitted to do, "to go to the head") to divert the sentry's attention.
Three or four were drowned in trying to swim ashore, about three-fourths of a mile; two or three, when pressed by hunger, came back; one or two were shot by parties sent out in pursuit; but the great majority were not again seen.
A court of inquiry assembled to investigate the case, and the Major-General (Chute) was satisfied that no blame rested on the detachment, as the escape was made under circumstances beyond their control.
The officer was unfortunately on shore at the time, and proved that he tried to get off, but no boatman would take him. He was censured, however, for not going off earlier, when indications of boisterous weather first appeared.
The escape of the Maori leader, Te Kooti, banished with 300 others to the Chatham Islands, their seizing a schooner, and return to New Zealand, and the harassing pursuits after him, was also a remarkable event in the history of this intelligent race.
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VI.
THE "DUVAL-MACNAUGHTON RIFLE:" A NEW WEAPON.
In Abyssinia, when the gate of the fortress of Magdala was attacked by the British troops, the garrison did not consider it fair fighting, for the rifles were fired through the loopholes at the defenders of the gate, and repeatedly fired without being withdrawn to load--they were breechloaders.
A superior breechloader in modern warfare is of the highest importance for arming troops; and, since the introduction of the Snider rifle, a number of rival arms have been offered for the acceptance of the military authorities. We have seen the chassepot used on the Continent: the fault of it seemed its length of range, for young troops armed with it are tempted, unless under very strict discipline, to open fire at 1500 yards or more; whereas the needle-gun, with shorter range, induces those carrying it to reserve their fire for closer quarters, and with more deadly effect. As an old member of the Montreal Rifle Club, we never thought of firing over the ice of the St. Lawrence with a range of a mile, or when a man appears the size of a black pin, but preferred a much shorter range for our practice.
A very enterprising gentleman of Montreal (a relative), Mr. Edward Alexander Prentice, brought to my notice lately a new rifle with various excellencies in its construction and action; its history and description are as follows:
It was invented by an ingenious French Canadian of the name of Joseph Duval, of Laprairie, opposite to Mon-
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treal. He not only made the "stock, lock, and barrel," but he made his own tools. Of course it was at first rather a rough, ungainly weapon, but Mr. Prentice, recognising its originality and great merit, purchased the patent rights, with a few friends, had it well made and much improved by Mr. James Macnaughton, gun-maker Edinburgh; also it was superintended by Mr. Alex. Duncan, Advocate, New Club, Edinburgh.
It was then submitted to the Minister of Militia, Canada, Sir George E. Cartier, Bart., who ordered Lieut.-Colonel G. A. Trench, Inspector of Artillery and Warlike Stores, and Lieut.-Colonel M. W. Strange, R.A., Quebec, to report on it. These gentlemen made elaborate reports, the gist of which was that they considered it a more suitable arm for the service of troops than the Martini rifle.
Description of the "Duval-MacNaughton" Rifle.
Barrel.--Is made of steel, .450 bore, and rifled with seven segmental grooves having a spiral of one turn in twenty-one inches. The grooves are recommended to be made as shallow as they can be made compatible with distinctness; also that they should not touch on each other at the edges, but that a small strip of the barrel (or land) should be left between the grooves, say inch, broad, which acts as an effectual check on any irregularity in rifling.
Breech Shoe.--Is made of a mild steel, and in one piece: it has a gap on the top (as in the "Martini"), in which the breech block works, and also one on the right side through which the parts forming lock and action are inserted; the latter gap is closed by a plate which is securely held in
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place by one screw. The shoe is fastened to the stock by two solid straps above and below the small.
Action.--The parts composing the action are cock or tumbler, swivel, piston, sliding tumbler, extractor, breech block, trigger, mainspring, trigger spring, and five nails. Instead of the various parts pivoting on nails as usual, they pivot on solid pillars or pivots.
Stock.--Has a jag for cleaning screwed into butt; otherwise as usual.
Advantages claimed for the " Duval-MacNaughton" Rifle.--
In claiming advantages for the "Duval-MacNaughton" Rifle we must necessarily draw a comparison with some other weapon on a similar system, and one the merits of which are widely known. Let us, therefore, take for comparison the "Martini-Henry," it being well known and having been selected from a number of competitors as the future rifle of the British army. The advantages of the "Duval-MacNaughton" over the "Martini-Henry" are considered to be as follows, viz.:
Simplicity and cheapness in Manufacture.--The rifle can be machine-made throughout and thoroughly interchangeable. The parts composing the action are strong, simple, and few.
Facility for cleaning and inspecting from the rear.--This is effected by having the breech block hung on the points of two screws, and a deep groove cut through the hinge or knuckle of block; thus cleaning from the rear, we avoid the risk of allowing the fouling to get down in front of block as in the Martini-Henry, Snider, &c., and about extractors, these being placed in a rifle where dirt can least be tolerated, and where it will most readily interfere with the free working of the action.
Mainspring.--Instead of the spiral spring as used in the
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"Martini-Henry," and which is very generally condemned by practical men, there is retained the trusted and time-honoured V-spring nearly as used in a common lock.
Pull off.--The fickle pull off in the "Martini-Henry" is considered one of its greatest faults, and until now has defied remedy. In the new rifle, again, the old principle of tumbler and scear is adhered to, with the result of a perfectly equal and agreeable pull off.
Extracting power.--Is an accelerating motion, beginning with a strong, slow leverage to start the cartridge case, and finishing with a jerk; the power being so nicely balanced that the operator at pleasure can land the cartridge on the block just clear of the barrel, or pitch it clear over the elbow.
The facility with which this rifle can be taken to pieces and cleaned, or can be opened for cleaning, and at the same time be quite ready for me in case of surprise.--Although we read in the report of the late "Small Arms Committee" that the "Martini-Henry" may be taken to pieces and put together again by any intelligent soldier in a few minutes, we hear that in practice this is very far from being the case, but that considerable difficulty is experienced in putting together the rifle after having taken it separate. The present rifle, on the other hand, may be opened for cleaning and understood by any soldier in one minute, and at the same time (when open) is quite good for firing, which, we believe, is quite a novel feature in rifles.
Piston.--Is of one piece, strong and simply made, and requires no piston spring, the first movement of the cock upward withdrawing it within the block. In the "Martini-Henry" a frequent complaint is made of the piston breaking, or getting staved up in consequence of its having to
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take the full blow of the mainspring when snapping the rifle without a cartridge case. In this rifle we have a large, flat surface on the front of cock striking against a similar surface on body, and together making a most excellent snapping face, and one which may be used without detriment to the arm.
Rapidity.--There being one motion less required in loading and firing the "Duval-MacNaughton" than the "Martini," it is obvious that a greater number of shots may be fired in the same time.
The "Duval-MacNaughton" rifle having a visible cock-- which also acts as lever--is considered to be a great advantage, as any one may tell at a glance whether the rifle is at low, half, or full-cock; it also enables the operator to lower the lock from full-cock to half-cock, as in an ordinary rifle lock.
A second pattern of this rifle is made with an additional tumbler, which is actuated by the cock, and makes it possible to fire with the breech open or shut at pleasure.
The best method of manipulating the "Duval-MacNaughton" rifle is to hold it at the position of "ready," place the palm of right hand on the cock, the fingers to the right side underneath the rifle, with thumb to left side; squeeze the hand sharply together; this opens the breech, ejects the spent cartridge case, and leaves the rifle at full-cock ready for loading.
The lever by which the breech is opened being above the small or handle of the stock can easily be grasped by the right hand without relinquishing the hold on the rifle, a feature which adapts it for cavalry, with whom the left hand is fully engaged with the reins.
J. MACNAUGHTON.
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Objections to the "Martini" by an eminent Gunmaker.
1st. Dangerous from being necessarily always at cock when loaded, and giving no indication tbat it is so. Is raised to cock without thought on part of the user, and yet depends for safety on his unceasing vigilance and care; being a self-cocking gun it does not provide a self-acting safety. It is also dangerous from the uncertainty of the pull, which is sometimes so light that the least pressure on the trigger, or jar of the gun, will send it off.
2nd. Its inferior lock. The lock of an ordinary gun has been so perfected that friction is almost absent. Its elastic mainspring is finely-proportioned to bear the strain equally on all its parts and hung on the plate, so as to be entirely free from it in working, and so connected with the tumbler that its force is greatest when striking the blow, and least when for the purpose of the pull it should be. In the Martini this is all reversed. Its simple spiral spring is coiled round the strikes, causing a grating friction on every coil, and is so connected with tumbler that its least force is exerted when, for the purpose of ignition, it should be greatest, and vice versa, when for the sake of the pull it should be least.
The spring of an ordinary gun exerts a pressure of 16 lbs. when down, and only 10 lbs. when up, whilst that of the Martini has a pressure of 20 lbs. when down, and 30 lbs. when up. This great weight and friction is unnoticed from the great length of lever used, but the effect on the pull still remains, making it impossible to give the scear a firm hold in bent, and so causing the pull to wear out faster. Again, in an ordinary gun lock raising the cock brings up the spring and tumbler, and allows the
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scear to drop into the bent and remain there till removed by a pull of the trigger. But this is not so with the Martini, as the scear is dropped into the bent when spring is only partly back, and is required to supply the necessary resistance to force the excessive spring the remaining distance. This contrivance is one great cause of its irregular pull, the pull being lighter or heavier according to the force and manner of closing the lever; and then how it must injure the form of the scear and bent, especially when either of them are softer in temper than they should be, and certain to break them if too hard.
The introduction of a new limb called a tumbler rest (what else is the scear) is an acknowledgment by the makers of the weakness of this part of their gun. But this additional limb is no improvement, as, although it may save the scear from breaking, it further decreases the firmness of the pull, rendering the attainment of the pull still more difficult. For example, say a pull of 6 lbs. is required, with the ordinary gun you have one bent and one scear to adjust so as to give the requisite weight. But with this new invention you have practically three scears and three bents to adjust, so that they act in unison and have the weight fairly distributed amongst them. To sum up, the power to make the pull of the Martini good is diminished one-third by the absence of the ordinary trigger, and still further by the excessive weight of the spring at cock; and then what chance remains of making it has to be divided by three, and this excessively weak pull is expected to hold its own, not only whilst sustaining the weight of the spring at cock, but whilst that spring is violently forced against it.
3rd. It recoils more than the ordinary gun, and this is due to the form of what is called the shoe, which has been
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constructed without studying the amount of strain it would have to bear. It is open top and bottom, its sides consisting simply of two thin plates (1/8 inch), necessarily placed wide from centre of charge and weakened by their great length (3 inches).
It is impossible for good shooting to be made with an irregular pull and excessive recoil.
Armourer-Sergeant Smiles, Grenadier Guards, stated to Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir James Lindsey, K.C.M.G., in presence of Colonel Bridges, G.G., and Mr. Prentice, that the mechanism of the Duval-MacNaughton rifle was so simple he could repair any piece in the field if it broke, which he said was not likely, as the different parts were so strong and simple that any village blacksmith can make or mend them.
The Canadian Government, having now a well-organised militia system, deem it advisable to manufacture their arms and ammunition in the country, instead of drawing supplies from England, which, in time of necessity, might be dangerous and impracticable; and with this view, not deeming the Martini a superior but an inferior weapon, several influential men in Canada have urged on the Government there the advisibility of making their own Canadian rifle--the Duval--at Montreal, or elsewhere in the Dominion; and Mr. Prentice came to England and was engaged with the Colonial and War Offices in order to get practical trials made in camp at Aldershot, &c, to justify the Canadian Government in adopting the new arm.
J. E. A.
THE END.
