The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-06-05 00:00:00

HEAVY GUNS.

Lord Ravensworth, having repeated the 127 story of the
43-ton gun, asked what trials or tests the guns of that
calibre had been subjected to on board the Colossus
since the bursting of the gun on board the Collingwood,
and what were the orders given to the officers of the
Colossus with respect to those guns.—Lord Ripon re-
plied that though the 43-ton guns of the Colossus had
undergone more procf than those of the Coßingwood
had before the bursting of one of the guns of the
latter, orders had been given to the captain of the
Colossus not to fire her 43-ton guns at target practice
until those which he now had were strengthened or his
ship was supplied with 43-ton guns of superior pattern.
—Lord Sidmouth criticised the management of affairs
which had led to the adoption of the defective 43-ton
gun.— Lord Northbrook observed that England was
not the only country which Lad had a failure in a
certain pattern of gun. Two of the French 70-ton
guns had failed in proof. The pattern of 43-ton gun
which had burst on board the CoWngwood was one of
the oldest of our patterns of large guns, and the cause
of its failure was the greater pressure caused by slow
burning powder. Our 63-ton and 110-ton guns were
designed to resist that greater pressure.—ln the course
of a short conversation which ensued, Lord Alcgster
mentioned instahces of the bursting of large guns at
Toulon, to show that England was. not the only country
that had such accidents.—Lord Ripon, replying to Lord
Sidmouth, said it was not the intention of the Admiralty
to stop the progress of construction of the ironclads
Trafalgar and Nile. An inquiry was being made as to
the alleged structural defects of her Majesty's ship
Calypso. From a report received that day, he believed
that there was no serious defect in the machinery of
her Majesty's ship Phaeton.
On the report of the amendments on the Crefters
(Scotland) (No. 2) Bill certain amendments were intro-
duced without opposition, ar.d the report WIWI received.
The Oxford University (Justices) Bill passed through
committee, and the Infants Bill was read a third time
and passed.
Their lordships rose at seven o'clock.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
In the HOUSE OF Comm:Ns, some time was occupied
at the commencement of the sitting by the Belfast
ainar on which Mr. Sexton moved a clause

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.ol&raunicipal franchise- in Belfast
for the present suffrage. In the discussion which
followed Mr. Morley and Mr. Sclater-Booth pointed out
that there was a general measure for the reduction of
the munilipal franchise in Ireland, to which Mr. Dillon
replied that there was no security that the bill would
pass the Lords, and in order to see what would happen
he moved that the debate be adjourned for a month.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer supported the sugges-
tion, Lut Sir M. Hicks-Beach maintained that the fin-

provernent of Belfast ought not to be made to depenu
on the extension of the municipal franchise, and Sir J.
P. Corry suggested an adjournment for three weeks,
which was ultimately agreed to.
The Coancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that he
will bring in a bill for an alteration of the Wine Duties.