THE OCEAN BEACH RIFLE RANGE.

Evening Star, Issue 3600, 5 September 1874, Page 2

THE OCEAN BEACH RIFLE RANGE.

To the Editor. Sir, Now that summer is again close at and the Ocean Heaoh near Dunedin will, it is hoped, become the frequent resort of persons desirous of obtaining a mouthful of fresh air, I think that public attention should be called to the existence of the rifle range at the Ocean Beach. inoe this rifle range was started some years ago it is needless for me to say that population has greatly increased in its neighborhood, and the numbci of visitors to the Ocean Beach has multiplied. It must be fresh in the recollection of many of your readers that not long ago a young man who, along with a few companions, was walking along the beach opposite the range, was severely wounded from a shot evidently aimed at the target, while since that time many accidents of a similar nature have almost taken place, Some time ago the writer of this letter was enjoying a quiet ride along the beach, when suddenly he was awakened from his reverie by hearing a bullet whis past him, Immediately after this another bullet hit the sand in front of him, whereupon thinking this was be soming too hot, he put spun to his horse and soon left the dangerous ground far behind. Row, Sir, there is not the slightest doubt but what these shots came from some people who were at that moment practising on the range. Upon making inquiries lately 1 have discovered that it is a matter of very frequent occurrence for the bullets to go over the sandhills and on to tae beach on the other side j that, in fact, several people have almost met with accidents in consequence. I have even learnt farther that many of those who practise there are such indifferent shots that it is no uncommon thing for them to fire several hundred yards wide of the range, thus at times endangering-the lives of people who may be passing along the Hillside road, and occasionally sending a bullet into some quiet cow which may happen to be depasturiag ia auy of the adjeiuing fields sir, in the face of what I have already stated, and of the fact that the flat ia the immediate vicinity of this range is being turned into townships and built upon, I think it is high time that the range should be removed to some other place where there may be no danger of either nan or beast losing their lives through it. Besides, it is an injustice to the citizens that the beautiful beach which they have so close at hand should be rendered dangerous to pleasureseekers when it' ought not to be so.—l am &c., C R. C Dunedin, September 4.