SUNDAY SNIPING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 October 1908, Page 7

SUNDAY SNIPING.

RIFLE PRACTICE ON THE QUEEN'S DRIVE. MOTORISTS IN DANGER. ' An incident which occurred on the Queen's Drive on Sunday; afternoon- last, which has been kept quiet since it was reported to tho police, is a just- cause for alarm on the part of those who enjoy their Sundays in the open air. At about 3.30 p.m., a motor car, which had as occupants Mr. Juriss (connected with the firm of Inglis Bros., motor car agents), Mrs. King, and her two sons, and two young ladies, drew up at tho sido of the Queen's Drivo about 100 yards on the Island Bay side of the Citv Council's quarry for the purpose of a walk on the beach. They had barely left the car a minu'to when tho report of. a rifle rang out, and a bullet whizzed past' within a foot of Mr. Juriss, who was standing at ono side of tho road. He had barely timoVto warn Mrs. Kiug that somobody was firing a rifle their way when another report was heard, and tho bullet passed bftireen that ladv and ono of her sons. Thoroughly alarmed now as to the danger of their position, Mr. Juriss sang out to ono of the young ladies, who had mounted a small hill to come down and seek cover. Her movements were accelerated by another bullet, which lodged in the'bank not far from tho party. ■ Young Mr. King mado for the motor car, and tho party all bundled in as quickly as possible aiidjmade off to Maranui. Mr. Juriss states that he reported the matter to tho post offico ,ag6nt there, who promised to communicate with tho police by telephone, but this, according to Mr. Juriss, does not appear to have been done, as he ascertained when, ho reported tho affair on Monday morning. In answer to questions, Mr. Juriss states ( that he saw four or five young fellows up tho hill about 600 yards away, and thoro was no doubt that the shots fired came from that quarter. He could suggest, no other theory for such a dangerous practico as to fire with ball across Hhe Queen's Drive on a Sunday afternoon than the idea that the shootists must have been under the influence of drink. The matter is being closely investigated.