THE NEW RIFLE RANGE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1783, 19 September 1874, Page 2

THE NEW RIFLE RANGE.

It requires a personal inspection to form any correct idea of the magnitude of this range, as well as its admi|ible construction, and the work does* Mr. McLaren, the District Bugineer, g&at credit, After the plan had been conceived the difficulties to be contended against were ndt by any means slight. The place upon which it is erected was originally thickly studded with mangroves, and the tide encroaches at the full up to where Mr. Spencer's paddock terminates. At first it had been purposed to run the ran £c from the dry land, but this from various causes, was found to be inexpedient, and Mr. McLaren determined upon running the range through the straight line of mangroves. To do this the mangroves— such at least as was necessary — were cut down, and this gave a magnificent range of a thousand yards. Many cf our volunteers imagined they would be put to the inconvenience of wading through a wilderness of marshy ground, but were pleasantly surprised to discover that, not only is the range itself far surpassing in excellence anything previously seen in the southern hemisphere, but that every effort has been directed to make its access easy. From the starting point of the range there is a wooden gangwayincluding that which leads from terra firma to the range—being 2,000 feet in length. At the different ranges, viz., 600, 500, 400, 3G0,200, and 100 yards, shooting platforms have been erected on each side the gangway, and the contrivance of these is excellent. In order to prevent the effect consequent upon the vibration of the shots, these platforms are detached from the main gangway, so that those who are standing on the T's at each of the different ranges, need entertain no fear of disturbing the shootist while engaged in firing. The platforms at the first three ranges are constructed simply of wood, wjhile the latter three are earth banks enclosed in powerful frames. For the thousand [ yards Mr. McLaren has temporarily thrown up ;an earth hank. At the target the arrangements no less to' be admired. The house for the markers has been so designed as_to prevent any fear of an accident, being broad at the base and wider in fiftnt than at the back, so that their is no possibility of the men engaged in marking being in the line of shots. The front of this house is firstly boarded with thick planks, .between that and the second wall is blocked with earth, and this is backed again with solid iron plates, so that every possible precaution has been taken against damages, To avoid the necessity of the markers going outside this protecting enclosure, a skeleton frame has been erected overhead, upon which are to be erected signal boards ; and small windows have been placed at each side of ths house looking on to the respective targets, thus it is only necessary for the marker to indicate the result of the shots by placing the disc on the signal board overhead without moving from his position of security. Neither time nor space would admit of our entering a fuller detail of the many points which call for admiration in the construction of our new range ; but the volunteers—those most interested, are many of them acquainted with the range already, and those who are npt, will, it is hoped, be so ere long. A number of volunteers attended this afternoon at the appointed hour, two o'clock, Captain T. Li Murray and other officers accompanying, and the surprise and pleasure expressed was most unanimous.