CORONATION REVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1157, 19 June 1911, Page 6

CORONATION REVIEW.

REHEARSAL AT NEWTOWN PARK. It is characteristic of "the methods of tho General Officer Commanding tho New Zealand Forces (Major-General A. J. Godley, C.8.) that he is not prepared to hold a ceremonial parade of troops, 'without' previous rehearsal. In preparation for tho Coronation Review at Newtown Park on Thursday next, therefore, a rehearsal parade was ordered on Saturday afternoon, when two battalions of junior cadets (over 900 on parade), a battalion of senior cadets, the Fifth Wellington Rifles, the Garrison and Field Artillery corps, Engineers and Field Ambulance corps, assembled at the park and were put through their paces. Even the mounted escort for his Excellency tho Governor (Lord Islington) was summoned for rehearsal, and practised in its duties. The rehearsal was witnessed by General Godley and the officers of the New Zealand General Staff, and the ceremonial for the review very thoroughly practised. At tho conclusion of tho parade, the General assembled the officers and indulged in some very frank and helpful criticism of the afternoon's work. From what could be gathered afterwards, the General was pleased with the keen interest taken by all ranks lo perfect themselves for the big function on Thursday next, but was by no means satisfied with tho degree of efficiency shown so far as a knowledge of ceremonial drill was concerned. The Coronation observance was b him a very serious and high occasion, to bo honoured accordingly. Before dismissing tho parade certain directions were given with regard to the smartening up of all ranks in various important respects. A feature of tho review on Thursday will be the parade of the six noncommissioned officers of the Imperial Army who arrived in New Zealand by the Athenic last week. Each of these non-commissioned officers has brought out his full dress regimental kit, nnd their appearance at the review should be rather imposing. One of them will appear in the gorgeous uniform of the Royal Horse Guards; another in tho uniform of the Fifth Lancers; a third, the Third Dragocn Guards; the fourth, Second Dragoon Guards; while the fifth and sixth will represent respectively the Leicester and Worcester regiments.