§ ADMIRAL MAYNE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state when the Sans Pareil will be ready for service?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONOne of the Sans Pareil's 110-ton guns was rejected two months ago, after a series of exhaustive trials; since then another 110-ton gun for the same ship has passed proof in a thoroughly satisfactory manner, and has been mounted on board. The ship is practically ready for service, with the exception of a few minor fittings, and the trials of the gun mountings have been satisfactorily completed. I may add that I have just received the official Report of the prize-firing practice with the 110-ton guns of the sister ship Victoria, steaming at speed past the target. The captain of the Victoria reports that eight rounds were fired, the average interval between two rounds being only 3min. 5sec., and that the practice altogether was very satisfactory, two hits being made, and the other rounds very near the target.