THE ROYAL VISIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 141, 25 June 1901, Page 2

THE ROYAL VISIT.

THE MILITARY REVIEW.

[By Telegraph-Press Association.] C'.-istcburch, last night. Tho' children’s emoustration in Victoria Square was a magnificent spectaolo. Eight hundred school children, from public and private schools, occupied stands, representing eighty Canterbury schools, armed with toi-toi plumes, which they incessantly waved, producing a romarkablo effect resembling a snowstorm, and sprinkling the spectators with fluff. The Duke and Duchess drove up in a carriage, and remained in their carriage whilst four selected children approachod and handed tho Duchess a bouquet. Tho presentation was made by Ida Mary Reece. The Duko and Duchess drove away, accompanied by cheers and anthems. The Right Hon. Mr Seddon, tho Mayor, Lord and Lady Raufurly, and Ministers were present. There was a cloudless sky and brilliant

weather for the review in Hagley Park. There was an unprecedented attendance of tho public. Tho Duke arrived on a chestnut horse, resplendent in a busby, and the uniform of colonel of the Sovonth Fusiliers, accompanied by Prince Alexander of Teck and his staff. Ho was met at the saluting base by Colonel PolcPonton and his staff. The Duko then rode along the lines and inspected tho troops drawn up in battalions, and returned to tho saluting base, the Duke of Took on his left and Colonel Pole-Penton on his right. Tho iharch past began at 11.25, the bands massed opposite playing the troops past. The march was headed by the Nelson College cadets, then Christchurch Collego cadets, Boys’ High School cadets, then 200 more cadets from public schools. An artillery battalion followed with three batteries. Cavalry battalions came next in an endless stream. Tho soldiorly mounted troops in khaki presented a sombre but magnificent spectaclo, the horsemen rousing everywhere the highest enthusiasm. Tho Naval Battalion and Engineers, many companies of dismounted troopors, and infantry battalions, followed by a bicycle corps, passed the Duke, saluting as they went. Thero was a continuous tide of cheers. Then followed tho returned contingents from the Transvaal, who paraded with no rifles, and wearing their medals. Tho march past was concluded by more infantry. It occupied sixty-fivo minutes. The wholo body of the troops advancod simultaneously and gave tho Royal salute. The cadets did not take part in this movement. The Duke and his staff dismounted, and the Duke presented war medals to returned troopers at the rate of twenty a minute. Tho Duke then inspected the veterans, commanded by Major Wolf. Ho walked along tho lines, accompanied by tho Duchess, who was charmed witli tho

veterans and examined their medals. Tho Duko then mounted and rode off, and tho Duchess loft in her carriage. The review was a spectacle unoqualled in the colony’s history. It is estimated that 11,500 troops took part.

LATER DETAILS. Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. The children’s demonstration in Victoria Square this morning was orief but of a unique kind. There were eight thousand school children grouped in stands ; each carried plumes of toi toi, which, being vigorously waved, sprinkled overyone with the floating toi toi seed, resembling a snow storm. The Duke and Duchess wore received by tho National Anthem, sung by the children. They did not descend from tho carriage, where Miss Ida Mary Reece presented the Duchess with a bouquet. Then their Royal Highnesses drove away. The review at Hagley Park was an absolutely successful function. There was brilliant sunshine and no breeze. There were vast crowds, which filled to overflowing tho big stands ranged on the wide parade ground with a dense throng of spectators. There was immense enthusiasm displayed at tho soldierly appearance of tho men and the vast numbers of troops present. Tho estimate of the troops on parade proved close to the mark, the actual parade state being 11,054, comprised as follows :—Headquarter’s staff, seven, consisting of Colonel Pole-Penton, R.A. ; Major Maddocks, R.A. ; Major R. Owen (South Lancashire Regiment) ; Captain Bingley (Royal Borthshire Regiment) ; Major Smith (New Zealand Militia) j Captain Hughes, D.S.O. (N.Z. Militia Naval Artillery and Sub-Marino Mining

Corps), 467 ; Field Infantry, 1191 ; Field Artillery 185 ; General Artillery, 136 ; South African Contingent, 208 ; Engineers, 60; Infantry, 5481; Cycle Corps, 64; Bearer Corps, 85 ; Cadets, 3000 ; bands, 254. This vast mass of troops comprised the largest number ovor gathered together in the colony. The bright uniforms of the Duke’s staff added a touch of color to the endless monotony ofkhaki. Among those present were Admiral Beaumont and many Naval Officers, the Premier, Mrs and Miss Seddon, Hons. Ward, Walker, and Carroll, the Mayor and Mrs Bhodes. The Duke arrived at 11.10, riding a chestnut horse. He was resplendent in a tall busby and scarlet uniform of tho Eoyal Fusiliers, and was attended by the staff, one blaze of gorgeous uniforms,

under a brilliant sun. The Duke immediately proceeded on an inspection of the troops, which were drawn up opposite the stands. Then he rode back to the saluting point. The march past began ; one broad, steady stream of soldiery rolled swiftly past the Duke. There were no gaps between the companies, and no delay, yet it took nearly one hour to complete the march past. The grand deployment of khaki-clad military furnished a splendid object lesson of the militant war resources of the colony. First came a brigade of cadets, nearly 3000 strong, dressed in a variety of uniforms, ranging from complete khaki to mere jerseys. They created a fine impression. It took this wave of children fifteen minutes to pass the saluting base. The artillery corps followed, wholly represented by three batteries, composed of 16 guns. Then the groat river of mounted corps, all in sombre khaki, swept grandly and swiftly by, pride of place being given to the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. This and the Ashburton Mounted Rifles made a splendid appearance. Then came the infantry, preceded by the Naval corps. Never ending seemed this defilement of

men. The eye followed their broad lines I half-a-mile away. The Canterbury battalion were followed by the Northern mounted men, who had been unable to bring their mounts. Then came the Wanganui Highlanders, the Taranaki battalion, the South African Contingents, the latter being headed by Liout.-Colonel Jowsey, Major Crawshaw, Captain Todd, and Captain Sommerville. The appearance of these men, marching in single ranks, carrying no arms, was the signal for-loudly-expressed enthusiasm, a tide of cheers following them all round the vast arena. The Otago and South Canterbury battalion followed. The march finished at 10.30; then the whole body of troops were drawn up, and a general advance made with a wide front, three quarters of a mile in length. It was an imposing sight, this -wide wave of armed men sweeping over the field. A

Boyal salute was given, (ho bands being massed in the centre. The Duke and staff then dismounted, and handed the medals to the returned troopers, at the rate of 20 per minute. He then inspected the veterans, chatting with several, and examined the medals. Then he rode off, and the greatest review ever held in the colony came-to an end. In the afternoon the Duke and Duehess held a-reception in the Agricultural Hall. A large number of guests attended.

The- Duke went through the ceremony of shaking hands with each guest. To-night the Savage Club are entertaining the visiting English journalists and Messrs iSeddon and Ward at a dinner at the Provincial Chambers. To-night Christchurch streets are densely flironged, the stream of visitors being vastly augmented by thousands of volunteers. . The city is illuminated again, (i To-morrow the Duke and Duchess leave by train at 10 a.m, for Dunedin,

A FUiVI’HER account’.

By Telegraph—Press Association. !

Christchurch, last night. ' The parade of State troops at tho review at Hagley Park to-day totalled 11,003, composed as follows : Headquarters staff, 7; Naval Artillery and Submarine Mining Corps, 467; Field Infantry, 1191 ; Field Artillery, ISS ; General Artillery, 145; South African Contingent, 200; Engineers, 60 ; Infantry, 5451; Cyclo Corps, 64; BearerCorps, 85 ; Cadets, 3000 j Bands, 254. The appearance of the cadets, mounted troopers and returned troopors evoked tho wildest onthusiasm. The roview was an unprocedonted succoss. It was a unique pageant, the largest body of troops ever gathered together in New Zealand.

In tho Art Gallery the Government ontertainod tho vetorans and returnod troopers at a lunch. Among the toasts honored wero “ The Veterans," by Mr Seddon, and “ Returnod Troopers ” by Mr Ward. Mr Soddon, in his spocch, stated that the Duko had expressed pleasure and surprise at tho number of troops present at tho review. The Duke also stated that the oadots made the best display ho had yet seen, though tho equipment did not equal that of the Victorian Cadets. The Duko asked the Premier whether tho Cadets Corps could not bo fully equipped. Tho Premier had given orders to tho Dofonco Department for their immediate equipment. Colonel Robin and Colonol Jowsoy replied for tho returned contingents. Mr C. M. Gray replied on behalf of tho veterans. After lunch Colonel Jowsoy called tho Third Contingent togothor, and took leavo of them.

THE BREAK-UP. NAPIER CADETS GET THE PALM. A FALSE RUMOR, [bv telegraph—press association.] Christchurch, last night. Tho camps at Christchurch arc rapidly breaking up. All tho Otago, Invercargill, and Southland contingents left to-night. Five vessels carried 2000 troops to the North. Tho Gisborno cadots and all South cadets left to-night, except the Cavorshain school, who return on Tuesday. Napier and district forces leavo to-morrow, and Wanganui and Wellington loavo on Wednesday. The Duko has expressed to Captain Loveday his high appreciation of tho cadets. The Duke took a keen intorcst in each corps of cadets in the march past. The Duko stated that in his opinion the Napier District School acquitted themselves best in the march past. The only eases of sickness in the cadets were that two wero slightly ill. They are now recovering. Rumors of tho poisoning of 20 cadots were absolutely falso.

PREPARATIONS AT DUNEDIN,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, last night,

One hundred extra men wero at work to-day on the street decorations, which were rapidly advanced, and will evidently be completed to-morrow so far as tho route from the railway station to Fornhill Club is concerned, and tho line of procession by Wodnosday morning. Tho weather is dry and frosty, and if it continues the city will look very well. There are only four arches, tho Chinese, Marine, Citizens’, and Government. Tho block from Moray Place to tho Octagon appears to bo all one arch, with fostoons of colors and bannerettes.