Opening Te Aroha Rifle Range

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43318, 28 April 1908, Page 3

Opening Te Aroha Rifle Range

Anothir very valuable asset! wa III d t 0 T « Aroha - practically at endowment by the acquiring of 7, acres on the Te Aroha Tux road for i rifle range reserve—the negotiation; Jhave been somewhat, protracted mainly owing to the greater part be ling native property and had to bi tiken under the “ Publife Works Act’ and, then through the Native Court Nearly three years ago Major Clif Allen and Lieutenant Quarter-Master • Salmon tried t( negotiate with Mr Lavery and thi natives for the use or lease of a strij running parallel with the Tui road but were unsuccessful and practicall) [abandoned the idea. As that was the only suitable place for a range Te Aroha, steps were quiet!) taken and after very considerable correspondence and a visit to Wel-lington-backed by the favourable reports and interest of Colonel DavieSf C. 8., member of the Defence Council, and Colonel Wolfe, the officer commanding the district came the welcome news that it {was .approved and recommended by the Defence Council and sanctioned by the Hon. McNab, Defence minister, to procure the land necessary. Soon after, word was received that it was “sanctioned by Cabinet,” and the Public' Works Department were instructed to have it surveyed and the proceedings taken under, “ The Public^Work's, Act ” to purchase the land—it was then surveyed and the Land Purchase Commissioner made Satisfactory arrangements with; Mr Lavery for about , nine acres of his Valuable paddock, and the 64 acres were purchased from * Wharau Tu Tuke, his sister- and others. Application was then made for a grant towards the fitting up of the range and specifications were submitted, estimated to cost /77155, which was reduced and granted to the extent of £SO. The Contract j was let to; Jansen and party, who have done the work in a very thorough manner, and being all Members of the volunteer force took great interest in their work, -.more being really done than was specified. A 66 foot trench, 7 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches in depth, was constructed with a 2 foot 6 inch overhead gallery, target house, 11 feet by 15, built at the end of the trench with a protected door opening into the trench so that markers have no difficulty with their targets, and are perfectly safe against the wind and bullets. The background being a hill, rising very <*ep to an altitude of 620 feet, Words a very safe stop butt. * After the work was completed arrange* • were made to extend the trench for another 75 feet. It is now oartly. completed at the expense of -aptain Allen, the Piako Mounted Kifles the remainder—it was ione to enable the South Auckland fvine Association to hold their annual competitions at Te Aroha—this it* self means a pecuniary benefit to the residents, especially hotel keepers, »nd boarding-house proprietors as there would be 150 to 200 competitors for the few .days shooting, as wjUasthe wives and other relations who would come with them to visit ,u £® at hs and springs. .. The action of Captain Allen and nose who were concerned in having the extra Work done deserve to be biighly commended by thosd whose interest it is to make Te Aroha popular and attractive. Another pecimiary benefit to Te Aroha in haying the range so convenient, is I tnat it will be the camp and exercise {round for volunteers, not only for the Piako Mounted Rifles, but it sners the best, camp ground for and for the Second Battalion [Coldfield) Infantry and any 'other eorp who wants "a camp ground second to none, good clear ground J®*, cam P and parade—broken and folly country for work and tactics, unfailing supply of pure water, firewood Tor the getting. The five Wsentials for camp are complied wthfc, good water and firewood ground with gravel or boulder formation, roads good right to camp in •“.weather, ®nd railway station within half a mile, rations and forage Procurable with good suppliers. T®® ..range is highly spoken of by y°’jroteer officers who hava visited ft both as a rifle range and camp ground. The roads right on to the ground are available for coach traffic, there being large gates so that the coaches can travel nght to the firing points with the visitors. Mr Clifford! «nd party had no difficulty in taking their motor car right up to the refreshment tent at the 500 yards wing point. s One bit of extra work done by /the contractors was not in the specifications, the removal and re-erection of the iron target, and a safe mantelet constructed for the markers. The iron target was placed so as to give a 500 yards range on almost level grass land, no raised firing points being required. This was done to accomodate those who wanted practice at short ranges. Volunteers, rifle club men, and cadets have heartily appreciated it as has been shown by the almost constant use of it previous to the formal opening. Firing can take place at the iron targets at the same time as at the four targets at the trench, without any danger or risk. ; Had the grant for the equipment been as originally estimated the new shutter targets would have been constructed instead of the revolving ones, also the telephone to the trench which isalmost a necessity. Thefiringpointsare 1 all on good [dry land. ■ From 100 -yards to 400 plenty boulders available for breast work and cover as required by the new class firing regulations the remainder of points up to 80 c on good grass land, all available for any number of men; Arrangements

•• ( ■ for the U .. .. ytr . lace on 1 Somers, Mayoress, who had consented to fire the first shot. V [Balance of report held over.] were made.by Captain Allen' nnamnrr \ fii'' tfllrA* Tt en take-d] to formal oDemnn