16 JUNE 1900, Page 15

RIFLE CLUBS.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—As it was through reading your paper that the formation of a village rifle club occurred to me, it may interest your readers to know how I have progressed. I reside in a residen- tial neighbourhood where we have many, such as gardeners, butlers, coachmen, grooms, and others, who by the nature of their calling cannot become Volunteers and yet can be taught how to use a rifle. I have a 50 yards range in my orchard where practice is conducted every evening with "Government pattern rifles" fitted with Morris tubes. A neighbour serving in South Africa has promised us a site on his property for a 200 yards range, which we hope to make use of next year. Our club numbers about seventy. My object has been to strike while the iron is hot, and to make as many men as possible accustomed to the use of a rifle. Any information can be had from me or from Mr. Baldwin, captain of the Club.

W

late Captain Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. The Priory, Burnham, near 111azdenhead.

[Our correspondent has set an excellent example in not waiting for an ideal long-range site, but doing his best with

the material on hand. Let us hope he will have thousands of imitators.—ED. Spectator.]