TRENTHAM RIFLE RANGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 678, 1 December 1909, Page 9

TRENTHAM RIFLE RANGE.

[;!; BIG IipEbVEiIEJSITS/INAIfGORATEp;: ; '. ■Trentham rifle; range,: tho. Mecca of "New mirks'inen, . is at present iii tho hands |.of; the Public -Works, Department,l.which is. carryidg out 'certain alterations . inentsLtp the -range. These' will: mark the beginning;-of tin. extensive scheme: for the , remodelling, : of. the : whole .of the existing, plan of;. arrangements , .' .Hitherto, long /range shobtmg—Boo,. 900,: and.'looo-yards— been possible on . the Scddon range;l'tho' targets : oil .whickv are ■of tho improved type known, as , , the ."Kalstori.". B v.ln' order to'.extend.-'the''present conveniences' iforV- long-range, snooting, twelve of tho ■old-stvle.of'reyohing targets .'at the southern''.end ■: of -the. .adjacent. range—the .' SominerviUo"- : :are;to bo. converted^intO:"Eal.ston"; targets, and..the; long ■ range mounds on the; Soitfmerville range , put in. order, thus in- - .creasihg;,.the ■number of long-distance'' targets! - ;t0;37,' and leaving fifteen targets still available i ■on,.tho-;"Soninierville.": for-shooting up to" 600 yards range. ■; Tho original intention was to I inoroasorthe long-ranso'targets to 50.this year, i but. as -this would nave necessitated l - the re- , moval: of certain- of the buildings,' considerable expense, it has been /decided to carry sout only . half: the ■ programme ■ of: re-' arrangement .this year,, and : complete-'the next year. ' Ultimately all ■■ tho. buildings at the. rear of the Sommervillo range will require to be moved further back. '.'■ ■: ".;, •.-■.■ ':"■ v: Markers will be pleased'to. learn that the trenches are being asphalted/ and general im. provements contemplated tlujt will very -ma- 1 .tonally improve ;the conditions of things for those, who, hayo. at the 'very best of times a dull and mbnotojious itask 'to perforto. ; : ■ '.:.Eiflemeh.!.ftll.over-'New.Zealand, •and - also over: an■■■' the ; other sid<ii"- are, exhibiitng 'the greatest interest in the big annual'carnival at Trentham- in .March: next.'. In■ view of the ■visit; of the Australians, Colonel E. J. Collins, chief .executive officer, of -the Dominion Eifie Association, ■has, decided :to, allow the usa of ■'match-barrels":: at .the'-■:meeting.■: Hitherto these have been barred: ■ There is really .little if. any-advantage inthe use. of a match-barrel, as expert.' comparisons of ! results > has shown, but the- Australians prefer them, , - and tho action ;oE the Doniinipn Executive is a graceful concession, to their preference. "All aperture siphts"will also ,bo:allowed. : :-.: : ', •■ ' ,■ In-oOnMction with the firing for the Empire Match, tho conditions .of representation, as regards ;the Conimoiiweatth- m«n:: hav6 been amended to the effect that for tho word "Australia, has been substituted tho phrase, "any State.-.in Australia." This change was:made at. tho: Australians' own refluest. 'Tho effect ■oTit ; would seem to be that the Commonwealth iriflomen, by entering Stato- teams,, will diffuse their istrength for tho event. : ■■■"••. '...■. .. .