HC Deb 14 November 1884 vol 293 c1729
MR. CARBUTT

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the report in The Times of to-day was correct, that one of the guns of the Active had had the muzzle blown off; whether this accident was due to the defective system of rifling; and, whether that unmechanical system of rifling was the same as in the new 43 and 100-ton guns which were sent away from the manufactory without one of the guns being properly tested?

SIR THOMAS BRASSEY

said, that the official Report was to the effect that, while firing yesterday from one of the 6-inch breech-loading guns of the Active, the gun broke at about five feet from the muzzle. A preliminary investigation had been arranged to take place to-morrow at Portsmouth. It would be premature at present to assign any cause for this accident. He was happy to say that nobody had been injured.

MR. CARBUTT

inquired if the rifling were the same as the system adopted in the new guns that had been made?

SIR THOMAS BRASSEY

said, that he could not answer technical Questions without Notice.

MR. STUART-WORTLEY

asked if this particular gun was manufactured at the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich?

SIR THOMAS BRASSEY

That, I think, was not the case.