THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 3

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

In keeping with the traditions of the place, the Queen’s Birthday in Wellington was one of the most dismal days of all the year. Not from lack of an inherent feeling of loyalty in the people themselves, —for, to a man the community eschewed business and made every preparation to commemorate the event most enthusiastically,—hut the weather was unpropitious and fickle in the extreme, and the spirit of ardor which fealty inspires was nearly quenched before the hours were well advanced. A brighter day never dawned, and as the morn, in russet mantle clad, walked o’er the dew of yon high hill on the Mount Victoria side of the harbor, it was confidently predicted that for the first time in a long aeries of years the Queen’s Birthday would be blessed with abundant sunshine and a bracing air—would be, in fact, such a day, in point of weather, as would impart a ruddy glow, and take the proverbial sallowness out of the metropolitan face. But scarce had these hopes settled into a pleasant conviction, when the sky to the north-west became overcast and assumed a decidedly ominous aspect, and by the time the mimic pageant, composed of the volunteers and firemen, had reached the Thorndon end of the city they wore met by a blinding rain, which completely destroyed the auspicious surroundings of the scene and gave to loyalty a languid phase. The customary display of bunting was missing from the house-tops. Flags, in short, were few and far between. True, a number of citizens exposed their banners to the misty showers, but these, in their bedraggled condition, only served to remind one of “the penetential purple and the funereal black.” Still, the Artillery Corps pounded away with their salvo, the riflemen rattled off their feu de joie, and the bands maintained their joyous strains despite all discouragement. Then the leaden clouds lifted and gave another gleam of sunshine, and with a happy-go-lucky kind of resolve the people trooped at masse toward the railway station to be present at the opening of the extension of the line, which had the charm of novelty. It would perhaps be more correct to say that in seeking relief from business cares the populace acted upon this principle—farthest away greatest pleasure. It is not therefore surprising, all things considered, that the trip to the Upper Hutt proved such a great attraction, though it was attended with dreadfully uncomfortable results, for during the afternoon the rain again set in, and continued with relentless persistency up to 6 o’clock, when a temporary cessation was arrived at. The visitors to the country were: not alone in their discomfort, for the members of the Kifle Association, who were contesting for the honor of victory at BolhiU’s Gully, were similarly perplexed, though they manfully braved the storm and completed the business on hand, to wit, the competition for the Licensed Victuallers' Cup. The ancient adage anentthe “ ill wind that blows no one anygood,” mayhero be referred to with special appropriateness, for while' all else may be classed as failure, the: theatre performance and the Star Boating Club soiree were decidedly successful. The holiday-makers were not to be disappointed altogether, and in such a case “ the best of all ways to lengthen the day, was to steal a few hours from the night,” and they acted accordingly. On tho whole, there was plenty of diversion of one sort or another, and if the proceedings of the day were bereft of

any extremely pleasurable features, there was this remaining consolation, that they gave to the laboring classes a day’s relaxation from toil. THE VOLUNTEER PARADE. The different Volunteer corps mustered at the drill-shed at an early hour on Monday morning, preparatory to marching to, the Government Reserve to do military honors to her Majesty the Queen; The Wellington Artillery and Cadets, numbering about sixty, under the command of Lieutenant Fox and Instructor Mowatt ; the City of Wellington Rifles and their Cadets, in all sixty rank and file, commanded by Captain Crowe, preceded by their respective bands —tbe whole force being under the command of Captain Pearce, —marched to the review ground. The Artillery fired a royal salute of twenty-one guns, and the infantry gave a feu de joie, the bands playing the National Anthem. The gallant commander then called for three cheers for her Majesty, which were enthusiastically responded to by the troops and the large concourse of spectators present. The Volunteers were then marched back to the drill-shed and dismissed. RIFLE ASSOCIATION. The competition for the Licensed Victuallers' Cup aud other prizes took place on Monday at the Polhill Gully Range, under the auspices of the Wellington Rifle Association. The competition throughout was conducted under difficulties, but in tbe afternoon, during tbe firing of the second match, the rain came down with steady persistency, and destroyed all interest in the contest, the marksmen with considerable difficulty keeping their powder dry. The contest was not keen enough to be very exciting, nevertheless the scoring was creditable under all the circumstances. The following is a list of the winners ; FIRST MATCH. 400 500 600 TI. C. Bannister (Veterans) .. .. 17 14 15—45 E. Earp (Paliautanui), prize £1 105... 10 15 11 —43 J. iV. Ballinger, prize £1 .. .. 15 13 12—40 A. Monk, prize 15s .. 16 17 9 —40 A. Pollnitz (Cavalry Champion) ~ 17 8 14—30 Lieut. Scott (Veterans) .. .. 17 15 7—39 Capt. Crowe .. .. .. ..19.13 7—39 Private Grace .. .. ;il 15 14 8—37 Sergt. Nairn .. .. ‘ .. .. 15 11 8—34 SECOND MATCH. • This contest was conducted at the 400 and 500 yards ranges, and was won by Private Dixon with a score of 30. Rain fell pretty heavily during this match, and at its conclusion the ground,was speedily cleared. RAILWAY EXCURSION TO SILVER STREAM. Perhaps the most important event of the day was the throwing open for public inspection of the two additional nearly completed sections on the Wellington and Master-ton line, on one of which occurs the heavy bridge across the Hutt River. It was anticipated that many persons would choose this excursion for their day’s “ outing,” therefore special facilities, in the shape of extra trains, were afforded by the railway authorities, yet, notwithstanding preparations, the number of passengers was so large that the officials were at their wits’ end to provide the requisite accommodation. Every available carriage was placed on the line, still the means of transit were insufficient, aud it became necessary to convert goods trucks into carriages for the nonce. This arrangement was agreeable enough in the morning, but seeing that on the return trip the rain came down with unrelenting steadiness,* the victims of this impromptu scheme would scarcely be- troubled- with an exuberance of spirits on their arrival at home. As our readers may be aware, the contracts for the construction of the two sections under notice were let to Mr. McKirdy. Operations were commenced by him early in August on the second section, since when the .works have been pushed on steadily, and are now so far completed that it is anticipated the line will be handed over to the Commissioner of Public Works by the end of July. From the eight-mile point (Hutt Station), where Section 2 commences, to 14 miles 38 chains, the line has been finished and ballasted. So far little engineering difficulty , appears to have been met with, excepting in a length of thirty chains commencing at 11 miles 14 chains. Here it was necessary to reclaim a strip from the river. Concrete walls on either side from the line have been built at great cost, and the 30 chains represent an outlay of little short of £12,000 ; the work, however, has been done thoroughly, and forms one of the most substantial parts of the permanent way. From the Hutt the country has a gradual continuous ascent, till at 14 miles 38 chains an altitude of 50ft. above the starting point is attained, by a succession of easy gradients—none steeper than lin 129. There are a few very sharp curves—in certain ’ instances the radius being but five chains ; in such cases, however, particular care has been observed in laying the rails, in order to ensure easy running on the line and to guard against the possibility of accident. Indeed, the same judgment appears to have been used throughout, for it is a fact worthy of note that so solid and firm is the line that the train yesterday ran quite as smoothly along the newly-constructed section as on the portion which has been open for traffic during the past twelve months. At 14 miles 38 chains the principal work of No. 3 section occurs—the bridge over the River Hutt. To this considerable interest attaches, since it is tbe pioneer bridge of its kind, being constructed upon the plan of Howe’s American bridge. Eight spans will support the upper structure ; of these seven are completed, and the eighth very nearly so. The spans are built upon iron hark piles, driven to a depth of twenty-two feet below water level, and held together by wrought iron bands. The spans and other parts of the upper structure are composed of totara wood and red birch, rivetted with wrought iron plates and strain blocks. Tbe arches appear the very embodiment of strength, in proof of which it may be mentioned that when the full weight and strain of the structure fell upon them by the striking of the platforms, the camber lost but a quarter of an inch, and it is estimated that were a strain, of fifty tons placed upon each of the arches the depression would be merely nominal. As a whole, the structure is a magnificent work of its kind ; substantial and durable as a rock, yet withal light and ornamental in appearance. Beyond the bridge the line is again comparatively easy. One piece of heavy rock cutting occurs, but excepting that the country is soft, and the . route straight to the end of the section. The whole of it is formed and fenced, and so soon as connection shall have been established by the completion of the bridge, ballasting and plate-laying will be but tbe work of a few days. G. M. Wink, Esq., is resident engineer in charge, and Mr. Joseph Browne inspecting surveyor.