THE KING'S BIRTHDAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 4 June 1918, Page 7

THE KING'S BIRTHDAY

RED JERSEY EFFORT i FINE PROCESSION AND MILITARY DISPLAY BOY SCOUTS NAVE A DAY OUT

Glorious weather in which there was the fresh savour of an early spring day, favoured the celebration ot king's Birthday yesterday. From an early lioiir bunting flutlorcd bravely from the vessels in port and from hundreds of buildings; and from deep down in th.9 licarls of the people roso many an unspoken prayer that the arms of Kiug (iixirgo and tho far-Hung Empire of which he is tho living head shall win through the present grave crisis, emerging—as gold wj-.ich has passed through ilii' refiner's fire—purer and better than ever.

II was the energetic committee of the Jiii! .loruey Appeal which gavo ■Wellington its opportunity to display that outward spirit of loyalty which should ever 1)0 associated with tho birthday of TOiihlaml's reigning Sovereign. With characteristic virility aud resource the commit teo organised a big patriotic procession through the- streets of the city, terminating with a military and Boy Scout ''tattoo" in Newtown Park. 'Spectacularly, yesterday's procession was a complete success, and immense credit is duo to those who took an active part in its organisation. The multifarious units that wore included in the procession assembled near Government Build-' Ji'gs at about 10 a.m. Captain A. Hale Jiiinro, as marshal, took hold of the si I nation, with (ho result that shortly after 11 a.m. tho pvocession moved off through the town with groat.pomp and eircumehnce. The head was taken by live companies of Boy Scouts, each headed by a drum and buslo band, which gavo a martini tons to the heterogeneous mobile column which stretched out to nearly the length of Lambton Quay, .hollowing the scouts, came a. posse of smartly-accoutred Mounted Polico, mag-! Julicently horsed, the marshal (also i snounted), and then tho tine Trumpet! Band (from the Fcathorstcn Camp), [ which played with stirring effect. Motor- i ■cars containing the Major (Mr. J. P. i Luko, C.M.G.), and the officials of the j committee passed, followed by the Wool- j ston Band (Christchiirch), after tvhich > rumbled a hugo decorated lorrv, oresent- I ing Hie tableau "Britannia and ilor Al-1 lies," being a picturesque group of girls, ! each one representing in her costume ono of the countries now engaged in the ' battle for liberty and justice for an on-! tire world. Tho crowning figure was! That of "Britannia," who struck a be- j coimngly dignified pose with liar triton ' «tnd shield. Her Supreme Loftitiess was the subject of much admiration, for per-1 Bonal as well as' symbolical reasons. The ! grouping of tho Allies was excellent, and j the colour scheme embodied no violent discords. The next feature to catch t.h.--attention was nnother well-conceived I tableau representing "A United Empire" i (British trade). It was a hugs globe, outlined on which was a map of tho .world and from the little figure of England (sitting on the frigid North Pole) ribbons stretched down nil round to tho various parts of tho Empire, the ends being held by httlo girls, dressed picturesquely to represent each of tho countries of the Empire on which the sun JTF/lv' «,E his tableau > as we " as ttiat ot the Allies, was arranged bv Mr P. Jlasey. J To the little ones there was nothing to stupendously wonderful as tho royal cradlo of his majesty the Press baby (Mnner of the recent competition)! ills Highness was accommodated in a Dig motor-car, cleverly camouflaged as a Eorseous lavender and cold cradle flounced all round, with the inevitable eiderdown spread, covering the bonnet of the car, where there reposed a huge teddy tor. The back seat was beauti-fullypillowed-inst like a baby's cradle -and there in high state in the arms of h s mother (Mrs. p. J. Barle) his Jioyal Highness snuggled, vaguely wondering what the world might be-and , [why. 1

In grim contrast followed a six-horse team of khnlu artillerymen from 1 rontham, drawing n field gun captured tram the Germans by the Wellington Begiment at tho front. Lord Nelson and Jus staff were a promiscuous lot of merry .burlesqners, who, in their motley, assisted in gathering contributions in coin from the crowds which thronged the Btreats.

The Lower Butt Patriotic Society provided a perambulating "horn of plenty," consisting of vegetables, in a bower of flowers. As indicative of the fruitfulMess of the Valley, the display was nllBufficient. Tho Wellington Woollen Company prov.ded a group of ycung ladies ia male khaki umiforms. wid called them "Empire Defenders." They were especially active in the money-hunt. The Government Printing Office provided n touch of lively comedy in presenting ■"A Musical Zoo"—a cage fu.ll r.f animals, who were very life-like—particularly in picking np snch undigcstiblo fragments as copper and silver coins, which found their wav into tho "Zoo." "Winter Sports (0. Smith,. Ltd.) gavo the girls a chance to show their smartness in pretty white frocks, more picturesque, perhaps, than suitable. The D.I.C. presented "tho CO-milo gun," mounted on an armoured track, .-ii.d /tho Eastern suburbs presented a mobile sand-bagged ■trench, pierocd by the muzzles of uglyIcoking cannon. Te Aro House supplied ja bevy of fair Pierettes, in violet and gold, who rendered very active service'

of collectors. Veitch and Allan, Kirlccaldie, and Stains, omul George find Ivrsley (white Pierrttes), also helped m tho same important connection. The Navy League Baby had a nicely-decorat-ed motor-car for himself and his sisters, and tho Letter-carriers' Baby also "caught tho mail." Tho bands represented were (besides. iho?e mentioned) tho Patriotic Society's Hand, the Salvation Army Bund, the Polone Municipal Band., and tho Trontbam Military liaml. Decorated ears were provided by the officials, Gamble and Creed, M. ManUiel, und tho Rialto. Tho processional route was via Lambton Quay, Willis Street. Maimers Street, Cuba Street, Vivian. Street, Tnmnaki Street. Courtenay Place, Cambridge Terrace, Adelaide lioad, and so on to Newtown Park. The whole of the route, was lined villi many thousands of people, who generally voted the turn-out to be a highly creditable achievement. At Newtown Park. As the day kept beautifully fine and warm peoplo to the .number of at least 5000 visited Newtown Park during I lie afternoon to watch the interesting programme of events, all of which had a bearing upon the military activ'ly which at present pulsates 'hronghout tho Empire. The Boy Scouts, who were present in great fnrco, sporting all the colours of the spectrum and many besides, gavo some interesting displays of inarching and physical drill in ft contest for the Wellington Drill Banner, which was judged by Major Wallingford The results ivcte as follow— Points. Kelburn Troop ..' ISO lliitt Troop :•■ - 15"' Boys' Institute 115 St.' Pauls' and Y.M.C.A SO The Brooklyn troop also started, but after scoring lit) points only in the marching contest, they withdrew from the contest. The Boy Scouts also gave interesting displays of ambulance work. The most spectacular, and certainly tho finest exhibition of the new physical drill and bayonet work ever seen in j public in Wellington, was given by a wiuarf of soldiers from Trenthom Camp, under Captain Brock. Dressed in khaki j pants, white singlets and shoes, this j splendid body of men showed to what j perfection the physically sound civilian may attain after a couple of mouti»' thorough training. Each man «;.-,; tlis picture tit' health, and their combined movements were made with machiiu:- i like precision. Tho bayonet exercises, I embodying tho latest ideas, proved to be ; a most invigorating display. Then there | was play between one soldier using a. j long resilient stick with a pad on one i end and a small loop on tho other. It was tlie duty of tie man attacked to' knock tho pad to one side and stab ' through tho loop, and it was wonderful to note how accurately the different thrusts were made. One of tho most popular efforts was that of the men at physical piay (to order), leap-frogging, hand-springing, und'diving between each other's legs. There was an element of humour in the display which called forth laughter from all parts of the ground. Tho display was really an admirable one, and the men were heartily applauded at its conclusion. > The Trentham Coy's, performance, concluded with a sham fight, in which a good deal of ''blank" was used in cart-1 ridgea and bombs, tho northerners gaining their objective without a single casualty. Among the spectators were Major-Ge.n-Jral Sir Alfred Robin and Surgeon-Gen-Jral Henderson. Another interesting display was that made by the ladies of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who gave a demonstration of their work in mid-field, under the direction of Mrs. Preston. Whilst the field activities were in progress some lively business in refreshments was done in the booths on the withera terrace, wjiero the Lower Hutt Patriotic Society also found lucrative employment in disposing of tho produce which composed their very creditable display. ( Prize-Winners in Procession. The following awards for displays in he procession were made by Messrs. Bonner (of To Aro House) and B. Keeairg:— . Best decorated car—United Empire (P. ' Kasey), 1; Lower Hutt Patriotic Society, 2; D.1.C., 3. Most original costume—Miss O'Sullivan (a stnmii-covercd letter-carrier), 1; Miss O'Brien (Maori), 2. ' Best baby car—Navy League, 1: Press, ' 2. "" Best tableaux—Britannia and her Allies (Britannia, Miss M'Guinness). 1. Special prize—Musical Zoo (Government Printing Office). , The names of tho members of the procession committee, which did such good work, were as follow:—Messrs. J. Lc W j s ; (chairman), H. Coleman (secretary), J. , H. Holliwell, W. E. Puller, J. H.' Bat- ' tersby, J. J. Casey, and N. F. Dunlop. Appreciation. At the park the Major (Mr. ,T. p, \ Luke) took occasion to thank tho bands I for the valnablo assistance they had ren- ] dered, and in particular mentioned tho Woolston Band, which was visiting Wei- ! lington, and had kindly given its ser- | vices. Mr. Luke, also eulogised the flue ! war work the Salvation Army was do- ' ing. and expressed the hope that its < efforts to raise money for tho boys who - wore fighting their battles would bo richly rewarded. 1 Adjutant Hosking expressed his appreciation to the Procession Committee for i the work it had done and its happy consummation that day. ' 3