§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in view of the fact that the English and Scotch Militia battalions are, and have been for some time, supplied with the Martini-Henry rifle, the Militia battalions in Ireland will be similarly supplied this year, instead of being allowed to train, as heretofore, with the obsolete Snider rifle?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The Snider rifles, with which the Irish Militia are now armed, will be exchanged for Martini-Henry rifles as soon as the number in store of the latter arm will justify such a measure; but I fear that the exchange cannot take place in time for the present year's training.