RIFLE RANGE RUNS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81856, 3 October 1906, Page 2

RIFLE RANGE RUNS.

NEED FOR ENQUIRY, AND IMPROVEMENT, UNTIDY AND DANGEROUS, Attracted by a rcti-al of Maori legends concerning- the old Maori pah at the mouth of the Wajwakaihu river, a representative of this paper went on Tuesday to inspect the remains, which, considering the exposed and unprotected state of the place, were fairly preserved. The pah mus. ijave been one of the biggest hereabouts, the visitor had never seen a larger—and the works were ample proof thai the ancient Maori had a far bigger supply of energy tha his present-day descendants. The bigwide trenches must have been hollowed out with wooden, or at best stone implcmen s, and the earth which formed those high mounds was probably carried in flax kits. What a task! The pa commanded a fine view of the surrounding country, and was in an excellent |s the view has no warlike interest, but from the summit a magnificent view of the district for miles around greets ■ lie eye of the visitor. To the West, the sea and coast-line: to the SouthWest, the town of New Plymouth: in the nearer distance, che rising suburb of Fitzroy; and in the background one of the finest views of Mount Egmont and the ranges obtainable anywhere in the district. Coming back to the main froad, "copy" was struck in large quantities. First came a mound that had been used nearly 50 years ago for shooting practice: an abandoned rifle range, as was proved by the unearthing of a leaden bullet, evidently fired from one of the now historic muzzleloaders. What's this? Another abandoned range? The counlry seems full of them.. But this is of more recent construction. It cou'd hardly have been out of use more than ten or fifteen years. How many more? But the plan of che locality showed this tumble-down ruin to be the range at present in use by the New Plymouth volunteer companies, and recently acquired by the Government for the purpose of rifle-shoming 1 Its appearance suggested neglect; the neglect, enquiry; enquiry, publicity, and here it is.

. The shed at the end of the trench was locked, so there was no chance of penetrating the secrets there confined. The shed, by ihe way, would probably last longer were its walls treated to a few coats of paint. But to return to the trench. Here is room for six targets now, at a pinch, probably forty could be erected without skimping the space.' The state of the mound and trench is an absolute disgrace, and a menace to the safety of the marker;. Unless some big improvement is made there will certainly be a fatality to report. We say fatality, not accident, because a death from a bullet fired at one . f the short range targets could be duo to neg'ect, not to accident. These short range targets must be abandoned right away, or the mound must be repaired. That is the only alternative. What a scene of desolation and devastation the trench presents There was once a trench, trim and neat, about eight feet deep, for the markers, protected by a big mound of earth. This secerns to bo the ambulatory of all the cattle, sheep, and pigs in the neighbourhood, with the usual results. Stray cattle and trim banks are as impossible companions as a butterfly and a snowstorm. They don't suit one another. In this case the bank has suffered. There has been a collapse of the bank, which is now- dangerously narrowed right in front of one of the target arrangements. The man who would mark at that particular target would be a fit subject for the Victoria Cross for for the lunatic asylum. At the other end. tit number 6 target, there is a total collapse, and sheets of old iron, broken rails, and debris block the ditch.

The targets themselves were pre- | umably locked away in the shed be-fore-mentioned, but if they are anything like those apparently recently rejected and thrown into the little gully at the back of the shed, then they must be in keeping with the rest of the arrangements. Leaving the mound, ditch, and debris to the attention of the cows, the visitor negotiated a filthy-looking swamp bv stepping along pieces of wood placed there. Suggestion: Where's the bridge? Some mounds, presumably firing mounds, were passed. They looked like firewood and boulder depots, owing to the collection of stones and logs that littered the place. Even this congregation of rubbish has its uses, we suppose, being used, no doubt, as "rests" for the rifles—recruits' practice, maybe

Taking lessons from the Boer in actual warfare, the local defence authorities ;(re preparing the ground for tactics such as "taking cover." Gorse, or furze, is growing luxuriantly, and will, perhaps, be considered sufficient for cover by the time it has reached sufficient height (o obscure the targets. This part of fJie arrangement for encouraging the military spirit is progressing satisfactorily, The only other fairly decent item in the reserve is the small footbridge over the Mangaone creek, emptying into the Waiwakaiho. This has not yet had time to fall i n ( o disrepair—but, in passing, it is W nrth 'while to mention that the land is apparently falling into Hie river. Numerous cracks and subsidences point to a further encroachment of the Waiwakaiho soon, right opposite the storu« ei usher. The telephone line is a v.uiidii-. Unfortunately the telephones themselves were not available for inspection, but for want of bctier information it must be assumed they are in as good order as the telephone wires which lie in tangled masses or

are wound round the posts. The whole place is a picture of neglect, a disgrace to the cusiodian, the volunteers, the Defence Department, or whoever must be held responsible. If there is a custodian, and it would not be surprising- to find that there is not, it is about time he made t!:e place a little tidy and the target arrangements a little more consonant with ordinary ideas of safety. We commend these notes to the urgent notice of whoever is, or arc, responsible, and hope to see an improvement made or the range closed, as a safeguard.