The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-30 00:00:00

A RIFLE RANGE FO it LONDON.

A want that has long pressed hard upon the rifle
volunteer companies of the metropolis, that of a per-
manent rifle practice ground, with adequate ranges
and accommodation for the men, is now in a fair
way to be supplied. A number of gentlemen con-
versant either with volunteer experience or with
business, or with both, have associated themselves
to form a joint-stock company, in order to procure
a permanent practice ground easily accessible to
every part of the metropolis, with an ample supply
of butts at the various ranges, up to 1,000 yards,
sufficient to accommodate all the metropolitan rifle
corps. Amongst the names of the directors and
honorary directors are those of the Duke of Wel-
lington, Earl Grosvenor, M.P., Viscount Ranelagh,
Major-General Lord Frederick Paulet, C. 8,, Lord
Radstock, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. H. Lind-
say, Major-General the Hon. Sir J. Yorke Scarlett,
K.C.8., Adjutant-General, William Dent, Esq..
Tokenhouse-yard, and Thomas Hughes, Esq. A
piece of land has been secured at Kensal-green, up-
wards of 1,100 yards in length, which will admit
of butts of an aggregate breadth of more than 1,500
feet. Forty-six targets will be erected in the first
instance ; they will be so arranged as to allow
the whole of them to be used with perfect safety
at all the different ranges at the same time,
the long range butt being 70 feet high. Thus
46 squads, or at least 500 men, may be prac-
tising at once, at whatever ranges they may de-
sire. The firing stations will be partially covered,
so that the practice may go on without interruption
in unfavourable weather. The electric self-regis-
tering target, adopted by government, will be used,
by which the point struck by each shot is instan-
taneously recorded at the firing station, much time
being thus saved, and all danger avoided. By thus
rendering a staff of markers unnecessary this plan
will relieve the company from a large annual outlay,
which would otherwise be required. The Hamp-
stead Junction Railway Company, whose line is in
connection with the North London on the one side
and the South Western on the other, are now erect-
ing a passenger station immediately adjoining the
rifle range, and have expressed their willingness to
convey volunteers at very reduced fares. A railway
is also in progress by which communication will be
afforded to the Victoria station, Pimlico. Thus,
railway communication will be available with the
City, the West-end, and all the suburbs of London.
The ground is distant three and a half miles from
the Marble Arch, The Kensal-green and Harlesden
omnibuses pass the entrance to the Range. It will
be seen that the locality thus chosen will not only
secure unrivalled means of access for all the metro-
politan rifle corps, but from the liberal arrangements
made by the railway companies, will afford peculiar
facilities to volunteers from every part of the king-
dom. Ample space will be provided for spectators
of national, or any other prize contests. Dining and
refreshment rooms, armouries, lavatories, &c, will
be established on the ground, provided a sufficiently
remunerative return can be obtained from corps
requiring them. The price of the land is ex-
pected to be about £30,u00, but a competent surveyor
will be engaged by the company to value it. As
this land, owing to its proximity to London, must
yearly increase in value, it will always form a valu-
able asset in the company's hands. The vendor has
offered to take £5,000 in paid-up shares, and to let
£lO,OOO remain on mortgage at £4 per cent. In
addition to the armouries, &c., it is proposed to erect
a large covered hall for drill, &c. This, however,
will not be attempted unless a fair prospect of a re-
munerative return can be shown. The proposed
capital of the company is £60,000, to be raised in
12,000 shares of £5 each. Ten shillings per share
will be required at the time of making the applica-
tion and £1 per share on the allotment being made.
The Duke of Cambridge and Lord Herbert have
seen the plans, ad highly approve them. Major-
General Hay has inspected and approved the ground.

The London and North-Western Railway traffic
return shows this week an increase of £1,570, the Great
Western a decrease of £2,235, the Great Northern a de-
crease of £2,606, the Lancashire and Yorkshire a decrease
of £2.184, and the London and South-Western a decrease
of £2,348. The returns now in course of publication refer
to Whitsun-week this year, as compared with the week
previous to Whitsuntide last year.
COMING HOME FROM THE DERBY.--A livery
stable-keeper named Gerrard was this morning charged
with being drunk, and also damaging a hackney cab. The
constable's reason for supposing the defendant drunk was
because he drove into the cab. The cabowner wanted to
charge £3 for the damage, but the magistrate fined Gerrard
10s. for being drunk, which he did not deny, and adjourned
the case for a week, in order that some more equitable
arrangement might be comp to with respect to the repairs.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.—CONI'IC-
TION OP THE BUILDER.—The case against Mr. Kelk, the
builder of the International Exhibition of 1862, at South
Kensington, for not giving two days' notice to the district
surveyor before commencing the works, was resumed yes-
terday at the Hammersmith Police-court. The defendant
said he quite admitted a notice ought to have been given.
Mr. Ingham inflicted the nominal penalty of ls., and 2s.

VV
Tilt GOLD DISCOVERIES IN NOVA SCOTIA.—
The Halifax papers received by the last Cunard steamer
give few details concerning the gold discoveries in Nova
Scotia, although the locality is only 30 miles distant from
that port. The chief paragraph regarding them is the fol-
lowing in the Halifffx Horning Chronicle :—" Every day's
additiDnal information from the Tangier gold fields fur-
nishes fresh assurances that the auriferous deposits in that
district are of sufficient extent and richness to attract
thi her the adventurous and enterprising. The gold is
of the very finest quality, and, judging from the rude
means hitherto employed to separate it from the rock in
which it is embedded, may be pro-G.-ably worked. We learn
from a gentleman who arrived yesterday that two men pro-
cured in three days from a shaft five feet square and about
the same depth 75 dols. worth of gold, and this without a
crushing machine, or any of the usual appliances used in
California and Australia. We also understand that the
price of the lots has been reduced by the Government from
£lO to £5, and that a portion of the proceeds is to be ap-
plied to drainage, and to making a road from the sea shore
to the gold fields. A good many persons have lately ar-
rivedanti many more are on their vioYe"
at the diggings,