RATHER A FIASCO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1163, 26 June 1911, Page 7

RATHER A FIASCO.

« THE MILITARY TATTOO. Xol to put too fine a poiut upon it, the Fifth Regiment's military; torchlight procession ami tattoo at the Athlf-tic I'nrk on Saturday night-postponed from Coronation night (Thursday), on account of tho wet—was rather a fiasco. The evening air was not very inviting, for a bl-cak southerly was blowing in lrom tho Antarctic, but the sky was clear. A great crowd colic-cUd at. the Government Buildings and all along the route of the procession. At tho • Government Buildings the crowd was ten deep at least, ho much had been heralded about this "unique spectacle" that tho public was quite prepared to whole-heartedly support fho regiment in it* enterprise. But though the public was there, the regiment was not—only a depressing fragment of it. The two tilings the regiment risked by postponing the show from Thursday till Saturday was a small attendance- of the public and another wet night. Neither of these calamities happened. The night was fair and tho crowd was large—at the Athletic I'iu'fc there were over -000 people present. But the regimeut -failed to ris.e to the occasion. ■ Summed up, the procession consisted of a band, tho regimental drummer, four-or five officers, small detachments from certain of the companies, some senior cadets, junior cadets, and boy scout?. As it proceeded along the main thoroughfares en route from the Government Buildings to the Athletic Park, rockets were sent up at intervals, nnd these, 'with the torchlights, made rather a gay' and festive scene, but tha poor muster detracted from,the dignity of the column, and disparaging comments were heard on all sides. .-■.•'■ On arrival at the Athletic Park an interval of waiting ensued while the torches were being re-filled. The- proceedings commenced 'with o march round the Park, to the tune of "Tho British Grenadiers." Then followed another march—a fantasia of inspiriting airs, during which rockets and set pieces were fired, making a great show against the blackness ci' t he_ nightsky. Then came tho representation o. the Battle- of Waterloo, in which a traditional British squara faced the advancing host, blank cartridges rattled, rockets soared into the night, and burst into spectacular constellations'. Then camo more set pieces, and here an untoward event effected a'prematura dispersal of the public. Tho final set-piece on the programme was to be a brilliant display of the words "God Save tho King,'' but a spark from the adjoining piece tired' "God Save theKing" too soon. Tho patriotic design blazed up in fine style, and-a great number of people accepted, tho hint and took their departure.

A representative of The Dominion- subsequently inquired as to the reason of tho very poor muster of territorials. From what could bo gathered, there appears to : luiye been a lack.of harmonious cooperation of effort among the officers of. the regiment, and tho Tatloo Committeeitself was divided on -the question <, postponement, some of them clearing that the date should be fised for Monday (tonight) or 'Wednesday. It is also stated that at the next meeting of tho committee tho tattoo will bo the subject •of sonic candid criticism.