THE HOLIDAY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2167, 4 June 1914, Page 6

THE HOLIDAY

■MILITARY PARADE A FEATURE ..■TEN THOUSAND SPECTATORS GENERAL PATRIOTIC SPIRIT The weather was on its best behaviour J'osterday;in;,Wellington;'and tho fortyninth anniversary of. King George was fittingly celebrated. \ The day was preeminently one; for open-air functions, and citizon's took full advantage, of the attractions-offering. No more fitting start could havo been provided than tho .Territorial-inspection''by'tho InspectorGeneral of Overseas Forces, Sir lan Hamilton, which took;placo at 9.30 a.m. ■To this Wellington, residents turned out in .such large numbers that public interest in the citizen soldiers ivas emphasised, in' what must have been a pleasing manner to tho distinguished soldier .who was tho central figure. Amongst th& other attractions, largely patronised, woro tho races; at Otaki, and tho numerous 'sports gatherings in tho city. Special trains left early with racing - enthusiasts for Otaki, these trains carrying no fewer than 1398 passengers,.'this number'being 400 in excess' of that', carried on the samo day last year. Of tho athletic sports fixtures, tho representative Rugby match, .Wellington V. tho.Maoris, was the most popular, and Athletic Park drew a. large quota of holiday-makers.; Tho hockey tournament at Karori was also a centro of attraction, and excellent sport was tournament at Karori was a centre provided. There was also an interesting exhibition of Association football on'tlio Basin Bcserye..

The Massed Territorials, • Although robbed of tho ol(J-timo spectaciilar colour, a parade of soldiers still proves an event to arouse interest. The Territorial parado at Ncwtowu Park yesterday, despite the fact : that ■it took place at the early hour of 9.30, attracted fully 10,000 people. Perhaps no prettier spot.could bo selected for such a parade, for thu arena-liko oval is'surrounded -by sloping' • banks, affording Bmple accommodation, for -spectators. Il'lio Territorials themselves must havo Volt pleased at : the Targo concourse of townspeople which turned out yesterday for a crowd as dense as. was that which assembled at tho, park .morning meant that popular interest • hatl teen "■ ■•.■■■■■

. Over 1400 men stood in the centre of the park. The solemn khaki of tho'ma-, jority was relieved by the blue', uniforms' of tho Boyal Now Zealand'.-. Artillery, ' while r a-' dash of more/vivid colour was jdded by-'tho twenty odd officers the Headquarters Staff, whd wore-full dress jacket;"flashing'."gold lace, and whito helmet. -A detachment of tho Boyal New Zealand Artillery was drawn up at tho northern end of the ground, nearest the entrance gates, while the Territorial muster was spread ■ out over the length of tho large .oyal.. The.Jst Battalion;'iiVcp'mmah'd,oF/Lieivt'.-; Colonel Harton, comprised A Squadron Mounted Eifles, GarrisonjArtillery'Division, No. i Company Engineer's, Bail.way and Post and Telegraph Corps, and tho Signal Company. In the 2nd Battalion, which wits under,, tho, chargo of Lieiit.-Cblohel C. Harcourfc Turner, were tho sth (Wellington) Eegiment, the 'Army Service ,Corps,'No; 4 Company Field Ambulance, and :•; men who had served in ' the New , ' Zealand Contingents during the Boer War. "Drawn up , on both sides of the saluting base were a imall number of tho over-lessening hand ■if votefahs arid a section of the' Wellington Corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas. Tho last-named organisation was represented-by members of the' Wellington South Nursing' Division, indiai'ge of tie Lady' Superintendent, Mrs. jPrestp.n. / :Tho officers and N.G';O:'s oftho'Railway Corps, who are at present- in .camp at. Mahanga Bay, .were-also' present; ' ■' ; . '■;..: :' ;' General and Entourage.- ■■-".' •■ General Hamilton was accompanied }iy the Hon.. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence), Brigadier-General Ellison", and . Major 'A'sh'moro' (s"fafE' officers), MajorGeneral 'Godlcy (Commandant: -of tho Now'Zealand]Torce3)"and'staff, and Colonel Chaytor' (officer commanding the.Wellington.Military District).and: staff, Colonel.G.'.E. C. Campbell, commander of the Wellington Coast Defence, 'was in charge of tho parade, with-Captain E. Symon, R.N.Z.A., as his staff officer. ' The Royal Salute. General Hamilton and the official paTty took up a position opposite the tempors ary flagstaff a few minutes after 9.30 a.m. , , and the General gave tho orderto "break" tho Hag. A Junior Cadet performed .the office, and a light broeze extended tho" fluttering' Union Jack. Everyone- came to the salute, and immediately D Battery, stationed at the top of Boy Street, overlooking the park, ononed with a. Boyal saluto of 21 guns. Tlie uth Begiment Band struck up the National Anthem, and tho spectators bared their heads. The firing of the Royal saluto occupied live niinutcs, but ■ ;ecmed much longer, and throughout the lime the Territorials stood motionless. . When tlio'iiunhle'of the Inst .cun had ilied away, General Hamilton, the Hon. J. Allen, and tho officers inspected, the troops. . , .'.:.'. ,;'. ' Spsotaoular Marohing-'- > " • The march past followed, in column and then in Quarter-column, and a stirring Spccta'clcAivas presented. Tho Boyal New Zealand x Artillery carried ■ their lines at tho trail, but the two battalions inarched with fixed, bayonets, at the slope, and the sun was continually reflected back. The spectators showed their appreciation of the marching by hearty applause as each company went past. The first tinio round A Company, of tho oth Eegiment, marched in beautiful lino till tho order ''Eyes right!" ivas given before the saluting base. Then ' tho men .began to dress by tho right flank and the result was that the lino was split almost into.two sections. The "Eyes right" order had almost the same effect on all tho men, but on tho lucond time that they passed, tho jlignment was much bettor. 'Die performance on the whole was creditable, Uio more especially as tho ground was In a terrible state-. ■■■The tramp of the >iien soon turned it ! intb a .'slippery pulp, making marching'.extremely difficult.

Ghcsrs For Ex-Contlngentcrs. That tho public is not quick to forgot services rendered . to ;.the .Emp.irq Was shown when tho ex-Contingenters inarched past. For tho"most part tho ■Email body of men wero attired in mnfti, T/itli several officers in uniforms showInji, signs of wear. Men in tfio prime jf lifo they wero, and their marching left nothing to bo desired. As they swung ,ilons to it'lio strains of.tho quickstep tvliich tho Regimental Band was playil'iiK, cheers wero raised by tho.spectators, and many a. cry of •appreciationcome from the crowded slopes of the park. Moro_ than one member was impelled to raise his hat in recognition. General Hamilton afterwards ' complitnonted the men, and for a short space, recalled scenes in-which both he- and they Tmd taken part" during"thfe "troublous days in South-.Africa* .- "His Majesty the Klhg.'< After tho march past the brigade advanced in- review order, and on the call of tho commanding officer threo hearty cheers ■ wore Riven for'tlio Kinjsf. The Terriforials "oritored'.in tho cheer--inft with "vim' and hats wore brawl? waved in tho air, flung high on the <yids of bayonets. Before leavinp • Sir lan Hiunilton in-

spected tlio veterans, and spoke a kindly word to each. To the' Nursing .Sisters ho also had .1 few words to say, find ho shook hands with Dr. Platts'Mills and Mrs. Preston. As lio left Newtown Park by motor ho was loudly cheered. ' Parade State. . The. parade state of the various units was as follows:— R.N. Z.A. (Permanent Force), 2 officers, 7li moirj A Squadron, u'th Mounted Rifles, 3 officers, 47 men; Wellington Garrison Artillery Division, 11 olficers, 155 men; No. 4 Company field-Engineers, 3 officers, 73 men,Railway Battalian, 33 officers, 143 men: Post and Telegraph Corps, 5 officers, 100 men; Infantry Brigado Signalling Corps, 1 oflicor, 28 men; oth (WellingBaiiway Battalion, 33 officers, 143 men; Army Service Corps, 1 officer, 1G men; No. 4 Company Field Ambulance, 2 officers, 58 men; Veterans, 13; ex-Con-tingonters, 7 officers, 65 men; Nursing Sisters, 15; Officers Retired List, 2. Total, 9.1 officers, 1324 men. D Battery, which fired tho Royal Salute, -ivas composed of 3 officors and 130 men.

HOLIDAY ELSEWHERE. MUCH MARRED BY THE WEATHER. (By Telinraph.—SpecieJ CoircjuondeatJ ; . .' Wanganui, Juno 3. The holiday was completely spoiled by ■ the weather. Heavy showers and a cold wind wero tho meteorological feature, and onthusiasts at tho North Island dog trials and the Taranaki-Wanganui football match had to put Tip with great discomfort. The Territorial parade in the morning -was carried out in a conthruous drizzle, and was consequently made as short as possible, a few formal evolutions being concluded with cheers for the King. (By .Telegraph.—Prese Association.) Auckland, Juno 3. The King's Birthday was celebrated as a general holiday, but tho weather was cold and heavy showers fell. A review of 4000 Territorials was held, and the Auckland Winter Race Meeting attracted many spectators. The school children all had a holiday, the scholars in many cases assembling in the morning to salute- tho flag. Christchurch, June 3. The weather early this morning was dull and cold, and, shortly after sunrise, there was every indication that bad weather was not far off. Fortunately, the rain held off until after the' ceremonial parade of the Territorials aiul Senior Cadets. An hour later it started to blow from the south-west, and rain fell steadily, completely spoiling the.holiday. The rain fell in torrents in the 1 afternoon. '■ At tho Territorial and-Cadet parade, held in the morning, •the total on parade was 67 officers and ■1681 of other ranks. ::A Royal salute was fired byE Battery. ;■■'. ' - Timaru, June. 3... Thei holiday..was spoiled by 'a cold .'southerly :galo .and'heavy showers. .At the-military'parade in the. morningabout'l2o men and'2oo senior cadets and-the band assembled and saluted the flag. A football sevcn-a-sido tournament was carried out .under unpleasant conditions. The senior grade (all local teams) was won by the Pirates Club. f: Reefton, Juno 3. In spite of wretched weather, King's Birthday sports, with a band quick-step competition, wero held. There w-as a large attendance. In tho quick-step competition tho. Westport Garrison Band was first, Inangahua second, and Westport Federals third. Five bands competed. '. (Bj Tclecrapii.—Special Correspondent.) ■'■' ■' '■ Palmorston, Juno 3. The King's Birthday was marked by a Royal salute''of 21 guns;';-fired-in the presence of Territorials, cadets, and a Jargo gathering of the public. Tlio National Anthem was played 'by the town band, and three cheers wero giv-eii for the King. Although- the- weather was'boisterous, it was dry enough to; enablo the proceedings to tako glace on tho. Showgrounds. Subsequently the colours of tho old Manaivatu Mounted Rifles : were placed in' All Saints' Church.',.,..!-. . Masterton, Juno 3. The weather was cold for the holiday, but kept fine till thd evening. The local Territorials paraded, and fired a salute in the public , ~ •. Napior, June 3. The King's Birthday was observed as a general holiday. A parado of Territorials,- veterans, and about seventy men from H.M.S. Pyramus took place in Nelson Park, and was witnessed by a big crowd. '_ '