THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1245, 24 May 1886, Page 2

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

VOLUNTEER PARADE.

To-day, in response to a corps order, the two companies of Ashburton Volunteers mustered at a quarter to eleven at the drill eh d, with a twr-fold cbj-.c; in vit\v. Firstly, to pay the cua omary military honors to the Sovereign of the Empire and Generalissimo of all the Forces—Her Gracious Majesty Queen V ctoria ; and, secondly, to attend a regulation inspection parade ordered by the officer commanding the district— Colonel Bailey. At the appointed hour th» men fell in on their markers in the driilshed, aui about 50 of the senior pany were present, and 25 of the Guard*. All the coo mi-aioned officers attended, and Captain D uolas, the senior officer, commanded. To suit the short number of members of the Guards present, the Rifles were formed into two companies the first commanded by Lr.eutenaut Dolman and the second by Lieutenant Fooks, the,four sergeants—Hayes, Nelson, McDonald, and Dunn—and Bugler Savage, acting as guides arid markers ; and Capta n Northey in command of the Guards, with Lieutenant i.eatell and Color-Sergeant Moss as guides, and two Sergeants of that company as markers, — Sergeants Leahy and Galea. After the usual preliminaries at the abed, the battalion was put through a few battalion movements, and after Captain Northey had exercised the men in the menU'l, Fooks in the firing, and Lisutentant Dolman in the bayom t exi raise, the men were supplied Wita three rounds each of ammunition (blank cartridge), and a/eu de joie was fired in honor of the Qaaen, This done, cheers wore given for Her MajeJy, the band playing meanwhile the National Anthem,” while those of the large crowd of spectators who knew and their loyal duty, stood, as every loyal jecta hould stand when the National Anthem is played, with uncovered head. The battalion then formed fours and marched through the town, the band under (Bandmaster Hosken) led in the order of march by Coldr-Sergeant Hayes, heading the battalion. Opposite the shop of Mr Murray, watchmaker, the order to halt was given, and Captain Douglas, acting co’onel for the time being announced that on Sunday week there would be a Church parade, which he expected the members of both companies to attend. The men were then dismissed. The “ soldier’s service ” will on on Sunday in the Wesleyan Church