RIFLE SHOOTING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15275, 24 July 1920, Page 9

RIFLE SHOOTING.

LOCAL LACK OF FACILITIES. ! TJie question of a rifle rang.? for Gisborue has been n subject of frequent disI'wssior/. One or tho most conp<»nial parts nf tho training pi territorials and cadets m thie chance of a day on tho: range. The question is also one that closely conceits <he> members of rifle clubs, etc., and has m tho. past been responsible, for many prospecting parties among the hills niljaceni to Oisborne, and for many visits from officers from the military., district headquarters. According to * <mo informant, no less than six suitable sites liavo within tho past five, years been placed before the militnry authorities, but although all were, within easy reach of Gisborn'p, rhey were nob favorably considered by the Department. Finally a. party of 'headquarters officers visited tlip district, and after scouring the dist.riet m motor-cars, chose a site at Ngatapa, which, it- was solemnly declared, could m tho near future be renclifd by fcrain from Gisborne. The time, allowed for musketry training between the journey« to and froni iho. ,«site did not apparently enter into tho calculation of the Department, nor tho cost of transport-, nor oven tlie distance from Gisborne. It is stated that the site of tho butts previously m use on tile Knifci -Hills was once offered to the > Department at a price of £29 per acre, through a party of business men interested m rifle 'shooting, but- no move -was- made to . accept the offer. The revenue from - this land to-day would provide the cost of running rifle ,'shoots, and n large proportion of tho cost of tho territorial system m Gisborne. It is estimated that there are five .hundred men and youths m Gisborne who are at. present, forced to use miniature ■ and mako-shift ranges, and those concerned say that it is /up to the Department to readjust its attitude towards the. local followers of riflo shooting whom it encouraged m war days to. frequent practice. ■ .- •■ - .