CADETS' RIFLE RANGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13532, 29 February 1908, Page 5

CADETS' RIFLE RANGE.

QUARRY RANGE CLOSED,

At. the Harbour Board's meeting yesterday, ' a budget of . correspondence was read consenting the permission given by the Board for the formation-'-of a school cadets' rifle range on the Board's land at the fooli of the quarry gully.

Mr G> W. Ellis and Mr J. Shaw, owners of adjoining lands, protested against the range as its use involved inconvenience and danger to them,.and they would hold the Board responsible for any injury resulting froim. its tise.. Mr. C, Collins and Mr. Dalglish, writing on bhalf of the Cadets, denied that there was any danger to the property of the objectors. Mr. Shaw had stated that a bullet had struck his door one day. The Cadets were not on the range that day. They had heard that adult volunteers had used their long range riflesi in. the gully (the Cadets' rifles are short range), but they could not use the Cadets' targets as these were locked-up. The secretary to the Education Board! hoped the Board would not withdraw its permission, as the range was a great convenience to the schools. The Board's solicitors had: been consulted and they advised that the Board could not lease (as had been proposed) the. land with a stipulation that a range be allowed upon it. Nor could they avoid! responsibility, for any mishap in consequence of such use.. The chairman said it was a pity they could not meet the convenience of the! Cadets, but it appeared they could not. Mr. Chisholm, as an old rifleman, considered that there must be some danger; they could never tell where '. rice diet would take a bullet..

The standing committee had considered the matter and recommended that firing- be discontinued and the section be sold, and the Board accepted the recommendation.

Mr. Fraser suggested that a range could be got firing out to sea, »ay down the eastern extension, and Mr. Young said they had a range like that at Ne!son. :