§ GENERAL SHUTEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the intention of the Government to accede to the application of "The National Rifle Association" for Martini-Henry rifles, for the first stage of the Queen's Prize at the next Wimbledon meeting, with a view to thoroughly testing the alleged defects in that arm?
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILThere is no intention, Sir, of making any additional issue of Martini-Henry rifles to the National Rifle Association for the purpose 562 spoken of in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. Last year 120 Martini-Henry rifles were issued for distant shooting, and it is proposed to issue the same quantity this year. The alleged defects of the arm have been very recently tested by no fewer than 16 regiments and battalions in different parts of the United Kingdom, and the reports of those regiments being satisfactory, they were considered at a full conference of officers on the 28th of January last, when the alterations proposed, having received the approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, were adopted both for land and sea service.