164 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
The inventor was not present at this trial. 
In Yol. IX., Part 1, p. 47 of the “Proceedings of the Department of 
the Director of Artillery,” will be found the reports of seven commanding 
officers of batteries and of the Commandant, School of Gunnery, on eight sets 
of range-finders, supplied to them in 1870. 
These reports were furnished after three months' trial. The School of 
Gunnery and six of the commanding officers—Colonel Turner, Majors Byrne 
and Stirling, Captains Crowe, M'Laughlin, and Smith, speak highly of the 
range-finder; Captain Thornhill speaks unfavourably. 
The following are extracts from the reports of some of these officers :— 
Lieut.-Col. Turner, B Bat., 4th Bde., R.A., Dublin :—“ I consider the instru¬ 
ment (with the exception of the tape) a great success , and will add g7'eatly to the 
efficiency of a battery in the field.” 
Major Stirling, E Bat., 11th Bde., R.A., Aldershot:—“ I consider the instrument 
a most 'valuable addition to the equipment of a battery, and likely to increase very 
considerably its efficiency on service. 
“ The instruments have been constantly carried with the battery, and have never 
been out of order. Their use is learnt in a few lessons by men of ordinary educa¬ 
tion. 
“ It is stated that, from constantly measuring the ranges, the gunners have 
improved perceptibly in estimating distances by the eye.” 
Capt. Smith, G Bat., 11th Bde., R.A., Hilsea:—“ I am of opinion that the general 
utility of the range-finder is very great, and will be a great assistance in obtaining 
ranges. 
“ A proportion of non-commissioned officers and men have been instructed and 
practised in the use of the instrument. .Ranges obtained agree very nearly with the 
measured distances.” 
Major Byrne, A Bat., 14th Bde., R.A., Woolwich :—“ The result obtained has 
been very satisfactory. 
“ I suggest that the range-finder be carried under the axle-tree arm. 
tc I have taken frequent opportunities of instructing the non-commissioned officers 
and men in the use of the instrument. The insirumerit is understood by them, and 
there is no difficulty in teaching men of ordinary capacity.” 
School of Gunnery :—“ The ranges are found with great ease and accuracy with 
the instrument.” 
Only three officers give the time necessary to take the range. 
This Colonel Turner fixes-at 1 min. 57 secs.; or, with picked men, 1 minute 
easily. 
Captain Crowe, the only officer whose guns were not properly fitted with 
y’s, gives the time from 55 secs, to 3 minutes. 
Major Stirling, from 30 secs, to 2 minutes. 
The following opinions, extracted from the “Proceedings of the Depart¬ 
ment of the Director-General of Artillery,” have also been given on the 
range-finder (Yol. Y.LIL, Part 1, p. 76) :— 
“ Director-General of Ordnance (General Lefroy, C.B.) to Under Secretary 
of State, 3. 11. 69, states Ghat the report of the range-finder is most satis¬ 
factory. There is.only one error of the instrument' (referring'to Aldershot 
trial) ‘of any practical importance, and that was at a distance of 2| miles, 
