HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2338, 5 July 1887, Page 3

HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY.

Opening of the Range.

TIIK rifle rang-, which is situated on the site of the old one at llamdton Ivist, was opened on Saturday afternoon last, no less than 10 members of tin: company, under (laplain Keid, rolling up in honour of the occasion. Tim tii.-t shot was fired by Mr Forbes, son of Pi ent.-Colonel Fori,es, and resulted in a "magpie.'' This gentleman scored well, especially with his last ten shots, he using ammunition of the. old Covernment make. Ihi leaving the range he was cheered by the men, winch be unituMy Tlf‘ filing l»y Uu) company thon pruwedcfl with. In Consequence of the large number present, only five shots were served out per man, and the tiring did not conclude until dusk. A few good scores were made, but the wretched am that is now supplied to volunteers by Covernment militated considerably against, good shooting. We have read and beard a deal of the ammunition now Used by Urn New Zealand volunteers and the complaints made against it in all quarters, but not until last Saturday bad we any personal knowledge of the stuff. A large percentage of tin: cartridges would not explode, when struck by the needle, although tried on several rifles, and it was only by using force, to tin; detriment of the tide, that- half the empty rises could bo exi'racted from the breech. Even those cartridges that did explode, when removed from the ride were found to bo weak at tbo cap end, that end being bulged out, and, added to this, some of the cartridges did not appear to carry the full length of the range (200 yards), dropping a considerable distance in front nf the target. . Wo have been requested to remind members of the corps that the first of the monthly dross parades will take place at seven o’clock this evening.