1893: Maxim Gun in Greymouth

July 15, 2025

By AHNZ

Here’s a cool picture of a Maxim Gun on display in Greymouth.

Most likely Greymouth Industrial Exhibition, December 1893. F. A. Moore brought the big guns to town on behalf of the Permanent Artillery Force that had been set up after the Russian Scare of a few years prior.

“It possesses one barrel, which is inside another that is called a “jacket.” The “jacket” contains about five pints of water; but the 600 shots a minute manages to heat the barrel to such an extent as to boil the water in an almost incredible short time. The steam has to be allowed to escape in order to prevent an explosion, and the evaporated water has to be replenished from a water bag kept for the purpose.” – Grey River Argus (1893,) Papers Past

Premier Richard Seddon, newly re-elected, will have been there. Perhaps he was trying to mark his territory with these big guns as he faced competition for the big job from arch rival Robert Stout who had just won the seat of Inangahua up the road a bit. Ref. 1898: Getting Rid of Robert and Anna Stout, AHNZ

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Image ref. James Ring of Greymouth, West Coast South Island History. AHNZ enhanced with colour (2025)

Ref. 1912: We Have Got The Maxim Gun, AHNZ

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