§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, How many reversed ratchet barrels have been manufactured at Enfield, approximately; what has been the rate of production a-week during January, February, March, and April of this year; and, how many Enfield Martini-Henry rifles have been manufactured, with short levers and half cock, similar in pattern to those issued experimentally?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)Upwards of 70,000 reversed-ratchet barrels have been made at Enfield, at the average rate, during the present year, of 1,668 per week. 21,875 Enfield-Martini rifles, similar to those issued experimentally, have been constructed. Some objections have been raised in detail to the experimental weapons; and arrangements are now in progress to alter the main supply, so as to meet those objections.