BIRTHDAY REVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 8

BIRTHDAY REVIEW.

TWO THOUSAND ON PARADE. TEE DRILL A. FEATURE. TRIBUTE TO DEFENCE SYSTEM. Anyone, who lias witnessed tho King's Birthday reviews in Wellington for tho last few years, will probably admit that the scene at Newtown Park Vesterday surpassed these of previous years. On- the same date last year practically tho same ' troops were paraded ' under similar circumstances. The majority of them were then undergoing tiieir first year's training, and, conEidering this, everyone, including the commander of the forces, was pleased with their performance. It is to be regretted that General Godley was not present yesterday. Ho would have had the best opportunity for observing the result of a year'a'training. Bat, though they may not Le military experts, most people are competent to make a comparison of the present with the past. It will not, therefore, be unwise to assess the general opinion' of. the spectators at the part yesterday as. a very sound one. The inarching was ever so much better than last yoar, the step was more uniform, and the general appearance of the troops on the move more soldierly. In the handling of their arms thero was an astonishing improvement. A detachmcnt of men from H.M.S. Pyramus held the place of honour on the extreme right, and served) as a guide npon which one could judge the rest. Frequently in former parades, when similar naval detachments have paraded with, the local troops, the laxity of the latter has been accentuated by the uniformity of the former. But yesterday there was an agreeable surprise for. the onlooker. He glanced at the sailors and noted their precision; then Lis glance passed on to the local men, and, lo and behold, they were almost as good! In the marcli past, too, there was vast improvement. The ranks were more in line, the rifles at a. better angle, and the succeeding companies moro compact. The parade (as far as Territorials wero concerned) was under the command of Colonel Courtney who ranks next to the Coast Defence Commander (Colonel G. F. C. Campbell) who was indisposed and unable to take the command. Itajor Potter, N.Z.S.C-, and Lieut. Rose, ■N.Z.S.C., formed tho' commanding officer's staff.

With the D Battery -under Major Fethprick in. position to the'north of tho park the following was the order of parade' from right to left Detachment from H.M.S. Pyramus, Lieut. Coppinger; 2nd Garrison A,rtillery, Petone Rifles, Engineers and Signal Company, Major D. MenEies; sth (Wellington) Regiment, Lieut.Colonel Harcourt Turner;.and the, Senior Cadets in four battalions under Major Matheson and Captains Simeon, Frahdi, and Greenish. Tho Amokura boys were attached to the cadets and the A Squadron of tho 6th Mounted Rifles under Captain Powlos were posted'at tho park gates. In the absence of Major-Geueral Godley the salute was taken by tho Officer Commanding tho District (Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor). The massed troops presented arms; the band of the sth Regiment Slayed "God Savo the King"; and the D iatterv fired the Royal Snhiteof 21 guns.

Colonel Chaytor inspected tho Brigado and then.'tlio'raarch past took place..Afterwards. Colonel. Chaytor presented longservice medals (12 years continuous) to Captain Gibbs (Engineers), Sergeant-Ma-jor Johnson and Gunner Cowan (Garrison Artillery), and-to Private Stott (sth Regiment). / . The Hon. A. L. Herdman; was. present as representing the Government, and made a brief speech to the assembled officers. Tho Minister made congratulatory reference to the efficient way in which the events of the','day had been carried out. If anyone wished for an exemplification of the good work of the defence system they had only to witness that review. He was not a military man, but he felt assured that, had tho Minister,.for' Defence been present, ho would havo been delighted. He,- himself, had witnessed these annual parades for several years, and could, with perfect truthfulnoss, say that the display which ho had just seen 'was better' than any in the past. Ho hoped that tho military movement in NewZealand would go on aiid that tho peoplo of New Zealand would havo confidence and respect for those officers and men who devoted their time to the sorvico of this country. Colonel Chaytor also congratulated the officers on tho parade and asked them to convey to the men his appreciation of the excellent manner in which they had carried out tho movements.

Tho parade state was 78 officers and 1599 men, but as this does not include tho men of H.M.S. Pyramus, tho Amokura boys, or tho Mounted Rifles, there must havo been well nigh 2000 of all ranks.

Approximately. 1300 peoplo travelled to Otaki by rail in the morning, and there must also have been a fair number who travelled to the races by motor-car. Probably owing to tho recent bad weather, the traffic to tho seaside resorts on the ManaKatu lino was not so heavy as last year. IN OTHER CENTRES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, Juno 3. The holiday passed off in dull but fairly good weather. There was a large review of Territorials at 9 a.m. by the Governor, the Hon. J. Allen and General Godlcy also attending. The races, held at Ellerslio attracted a largo crowd, and the other holiday attractions were well patronised. Napier, Juno 3.

There is glorious weather for tho holiday and a good turnout of Territories on paTaile. Tho holiday attractions 111eliido a representative football Northern Union game, Wanganui v. Hawkes Bay; a teven-a-sido Rugby tourney; a hockey • tourney; the Coleman Shield shoot; and Stone's aviation flight. " Christchurch, June 3. Tho weather was cold, but fine, for tho holiday to-day. The chief attractions were the trotting mooting and tho hookey tournamchts (mens ancl ladies); also tho football tournament. Tho hockey match, ' North v. South Canterbury, played to-dav, resulted in. a win for tho former by G goals to ouo,,