§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the situation of the Butt which has been erected for Rifle Practice near the New Croydon Railway, between the Streatham Common and the Thornton Heath Stations; and whether the War Office are satisfied that the Range can be used without danger to the public?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied that the Rifle Range in question had been examined, as all Ranges were, by an Officer, who reported satisfactorily on it, and stated it was safe. The Railway Company also were consulted as to the arrangement prepared for the safety of the trains, and no objection had been raised until within a very few days ago, when Mr. Richards called the attention of the War Department to the alleged danger to the railway in question. It was immediately arranged that one of the Assistant Inspectors of Volunteers should proceed to re-inspect the Range. He would have gone down that day, but Mr. Richards could not have met him, but he would go down to-morrow and meet Mr. Richards and several Volunteer Officers, and inspect the Butt.