1873 •] Recent Changes in British Artillery Materiel. 329 



but under the present system there is little encouragement 

 to invest money in mining operations. 



With regard to mineral springs but little is known. 

 Streams strongly impregnated with iron derived from de- 

 composing rocks are common, and a strong sulphur spring 

 exists near Irlajala. 



V. NOTES ON RECENT CHANGES IN BRITISH 

 ARTILLERY MATERIEL. 



By Captain S. P. Oliver, Royal Artillery, F.R.G.S. 



tHE following notes embrace the more important results 

 of the investigations and experiments carried on by 

 various permanent and special committees in con- 

 nection with the department of the Director-General of 

 Ordnance in continuation of those last noticed in this 

 journal in No. XXXIV., April, 1872. 



The reader will observe the steady progress in our know- 

 ledge of explosives, an improvement in their manufacture 

 and in the construction of our heavy ordnance and its 

 adjuncts for obtaining increased accuracy, together with 

 various nice mechanical contrivances for rapidity of tra- 

 versing, elevating, and general working of the modern 

 ponderous weapons. 



I. The investigations of the special committee on gun- 

 cotton and lithofracteur first claim attention, on the score of 

 the vast importance of the results obtained, which cannot 

 fail to have a great effect on our future war materiel. 



This committee was first appointed in September, 1871, 

 for the purpose of considering and reporting upon the 

 general question of the manufacture, storage, and use of 

 gun-cotton and lithofracteur, and was composed as 

 follows : — 



President — Colonel C. W. Younghusband, R.A. 



Members — Colonel T. L. J. Gallwey, R.E. ; Colonel 

 T. W. Milward, C.B., R.A. ; Lieut.-Col. C. B. Nugent, 

 R.E. ; Captain E. Field, R.N. ; G. P. Bidder, Esq., C.E. ; 

 Dr. W. Odling, F.R.S. ; and H. Bauerman, Esq. 



Secretary — Captain W. H. Noble, R.A. 



The following are the leading points which the Committee 

 are required to investigate : — 



