SUPPLY—ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 5 May 1854)

§ MR. MONSELL
, in moving the Supplementary Ordnance Estimates, said he should detain the House only a very few moments. The Vote of 53,333l. called for very few remarks; 10,313l. of that sum was required for the pay of field train officers and additional non-commissioned officers to complete the equipments for the field on foreign service; 11,020l. additional pay; 30,000l. for the purchase of horses, which were much required for the artillery; and 2,000l. for travelling expenses, carriage of baggage, &c. The second Vote of 96,734l. was divided into three items—30,000l. for barrack supplies, those in the Tower being entirely exhausted by the exigencies of the service; 44,621l. for great-coats, which had been rendered necessary by the climate; and 22,113l. for boots, shoes, &c., for troops in the field. 2,000l. was required for the increased establishment, rendered abso- 1389 lutely necessary on account of the additional work done in the department. The next Vote was 104,190l. for the payment of wages in the laboratory and carriage department, and it was only necessary to mention to the Committee how much the demand had been increased in the carriage and laboratory department, from the immense number of ships which had been fitted out, to account for this item. In the next Vote of 455,875l. for Ordnance Stores there was a sum of 100,000l. required for miscellaneous stores for the Tower, and the remainder of the Vote was required chiefly for the laboratory, the storekeepers, and the carriage department. The last Vote was for 30,000l., 10,000l. of which was required for the erection of barracks at Aldershott; he might mention that, as it was not intended that the troops should remain at those barracks for any great length of time, they would be constructed in a cheaper way than barracks in this country, and Lord Raglan and Lord Hardinge had appointed persons to consult eminent engineers on the subject.

COLONEL DUNNE
said, he wished to inquire whether the tents for the use of the soldiers were to be lined or otherwise. He thought otherwise they would be hardly strong enough. He also wished to know how it was so small a sum was required for gunpowder? 8,250l. would only provide gunpowder sufficient to fire away in one battle. Another point was, whether there was a proper range at Aldershott for rifle practice?

§ MR. MONSELL
said, that a proper place for practising had been provided, and the tents were suitable for the climate.