§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is intended to chase-hoop the guns of the Collingwood pattern, which, according to the statement of the late Secretary of State for War, were fourteen in number; whether it is intended to chase-hoop all other guns in the Service of a similar pattern from six inches diameter of bore upwards; whether the chase-hooping is to be performed by means of several isolated hoops shrunk on or by means of one continuous hoop or jacket; whether the cost of the chase-hooping will not be about £25,000, if it does not exceed that sum; and, whether this expense would not have been saved the Country if the Ordnance Committee had acted on the letter addressed to that Committee by Mr. William Anderson in 1884?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Yes, Sir; it is intended to chase-hoop the guns of the Collingwood pattern, as was stated by my Predecessor in this House on the 31st of May last. A detail of the guns proposed to be chase-hooped is given in the Report of the special Committee, which was laid on the Table on Tuesday. The chase-hooping is to be performed by means of a series of hoops in close contact being shrunk on. £25,000 is the sum estimated. There is no reason for the presumption in the last paragraph of the hon. and gallant Member's Question.