FORMATION OF RIFLE CLUBS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10074, 9 March 1896, Page 3

FORMATION OF RIFLE CLUBS,

TO THE IiUITOK.

Sib,—[ was very much pleased to see in thii morning's Hkrald Mr. Fowlds' suggestion as to the formation of rifle clubs. Heretofore the chief obstacle has been the want of a suitable piece of ground for long-range practice. Some of our best shootists are in possession of a superior make of the MartiniHenry rifle, eosting some seven or eight: pounds, but these are very different from those recently imported by the Government, costing aboatoue-quarterof the money. As the home forces are all armed with the LeeMetford, and the Australian forces soon will be, it is very desirable that New Zealand should be armed with the same weapon. The new Martini-Henry carries far enough, bus the magazine is wanting, which appears to be a necessity for all European and American Governments, the precision and rapidity of fire being a great consideration in actual service.—l am, etc., Amicus.

CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED. "Passenger" complains of a person who is a nuisance, and who travels in the railway between Auckland and a neighbouring township. When the attention of the railway men were called to him, they said they could not interfere, became he was an influential elector of the right colour. Mr. E. Harrow writes on the subject of water supply. Ho refers to tho supply for Devonport being beinj taken from the Lake, which he believes receives its supply from tho rainfall on Rangitoto. He enters at some length into this question, qnotin* Dr. Hochstetter's work on the subject. It Auckland' requires a better water supply, it should obtain it from the Lake. With all the water taken from the Lake for Devonport, the Lake is higher than usual this summer, owing to the amount stored up by the wet winter. The question is, could a bridge be built across the Waitemata and water supply obtained at the Lake at less cost than from elsewhere, and as Northcote and Birkenhead require water they would have to contribute. "Shareholder" writes at considerable length on the terms on which the Coromaudel Freehold Proprietary ground was disposed of. The subject is not one for newspaper controversy. A meeting is called to consider the action of the directors, and "Shareholder* can attend there and briny out the fact*.