§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, If, during the recent conflict in New Zealand, the Troops were not exposed to considerable danger during the bombardment by the dropping of the lead coating of the Armstrong shells?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply, said, he had not received notice of the Question of the hon. Member in sufficient time to enable him to refer to the papers relating to the subject. But he had been informed by a person who had seen the despatch from the Officer commanding the Royal Artillery at the last battle in New Zealand, that it contained no mention of any such occurrence as that stated by the hon. Gentleman. It appeared, on the contrary, that no Armstrong guns had been used by the Royal Artillery upon that occasion. But it was true that one 110-pouuder and two 40-pounder Armstrong guns had been used by the Naval Brigade; and his noble Friend the Secretary to the Admiralty might have received some information upon that subject. A private letter had been received from Sir William Wiseman, who commanded the naval force upon that occasion, and in that letter the performance of those guns was spoken of in the highest terms.
§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, that he would on Monday put a Question upon that subject to the noble Lord the Secretary to the Admiralty.