GRAND REVIEW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 263, 23 October 1862, Page 5

GRAND REVIEW.

PRESENTATION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS,

Yesterday morning a grand review of the military forces, s^Honed^n Auckland and at Otahuhu, took place uhc&r~ the inspection of Lieut.-General Cameron, C.8., on the lillersHe race-course. The weather -was in every way auspicious for the occasion, the sun shining brilliantly ; whilst a cool breeze most agreeably tern pared the heat. The ground was aptly chosen, and well situated for the manceuvrine of the various regiments undergoing inspection. The interesting nature of the review, coupled with the fact that the Victoria Cross—the first ever presented in the Colony—was to be-given to Sergeaut Major John Lucas, of the 40th Regiment, had the effect of inducing a lavge number of pedestrians, equestrians, and ladies and gentlemen occupying carriages, to be present to witness the spectacle. -

The forces in garrison in Auckland, consisting of the artillery, sappers, and 40th foot, left the barracks shortly after nine o'clock, and preceded by the fiae band of the 40th regiment, which performed choice selections of music, until arriving at the entrance of the race-course, where a halt took place, until the regiments encamped at Otahuim made their appearance. These consisted nf a portion of the I2tb, the 14th, the 65th. and 70th regiments, and were respectively headed by their bands—with the exception of the 12th. A combined march, was then made to f c course, the artillery taking up theiv position oil the right of the field. The preliminary manoeuvres were then gone thvough. and a grand line formed. By this time General Cameron with his numerous staff, had arrived upon the ground, and ihe whole line presented arms. General Cameron then accompanied by his staff, rede up and down the line, minutely inspecting the accoutrements and cleanliness of. the. forces. This beinsr done, three sides of-.. a : s juare were formed by the regiments, enclosing General Cameron and his staff: the lourth side being effectually closed by the • swectato s, who appeared anxionsly interested in the flattering ceremony which was about to take place. Sergeant-Major John Lucas was then called into the centre of the square, and Major Whitmore read the despatch which had been, received from Sir George Cornwall Lewis, relative to the act of bravery which Sergttint-ttajor Lucas had displayed, atid which, had iitted him to receive ,the Victoria Cross, of which, the following is a copy.

o - . •«• WurOffiee, 30oh Juue, 1862. faiß.—l have the honor to transmit to you herewith the decoration of the Victoria Gross, which the Quwn has been phased to siaiiiiy her intention of conferring upon the non-comniisioiied officer named in the margin, (Color Sergfc. John Lucas, 40th Regt.), now serving in New Zealand, to commemorate the act at bravery perfromed by him in that Colony as recorded against his name in the enclosed extract from the London Gazette of the 17th July, 1862, and I have received Her Majesty's commands to desire that you will take the earliest fit! ing opportunity, after the receipt of this instruction, of presenting or causing to be presented to him, tbis Cross in such a public and formal manner as yoiMuay consider best adapted to evince Her Majesty's seuse'of the noble daring displayed by Jain before the enemy, and to testify her wish that a oistinction in which the oflicer and soldier may equally share, may be highly prizeJ and eagerly sought after by all, of whatever rank and cegree. in Her Majesty's Naval and Military services, xi ",- xa? e specially in command to desire, that, in the discharge of this duty, you will take care that nothing is omitted which may tend to the honor of him, for whom the Cross is intended, and to enhance the value of the decoration, and I have further to request that you will transmit, to me, without delay, a report of the r-roc^etiiags which may be adopted on the occasion o the presentation of this Cross, together with copies of the General Order which may ba 1c S v 'i m Ord? r thatit may ]:>z recorded hi the Kegistry of the decoration, in accordance with Her Majesty's wax-rant of the 29th of January, 1856. 1 have, &c, T . , . x _ (Signed) G. C. Lewis. Lieutentant-General Cameron, C.B. New, Zealand.

% general Cameron then said : Sergeant-Major Lucas, it is my pleasing duty, in obedience to her Majesty's commands, to present you witli the Victorian Cross, winch she has conferred upon you for the act of bravery you performed in the campaign at the \Yaitara. on the occasion referred to in the extract from tne London Gazette, which has just been read. 1 feel sure that all the officers and men present, rejoice most heartily at seeing you receive this well merited reward, pavticu'ariy those who served with you through the campaign at the Waitnra, of whose zeal and gallantry her Majesty has air. ady testified her approbation by the honors and promotions which she has bestowed upon the General in command, and some of the superior officers of the force. 1 know tiiat nothing I can say to you. Serct. Lucas, can add much' to the pride and jrr.ittfieatiou with which you must, have heard the flattering terms in which the letter of the Secretary of S'ato for War has conveyed her Majesty's sense of your gallant conduct. I will only observe that your coolness and presence of mind under a close and well directed tire, tne generous assistance which you gave to the wounded officer of your regiment, at the imminent hazard of your life, and the firmness with which you held your ground uritil the arrival of reinforcements, prove you to be a truly brave and chivalrous soldier, worthy in every respect of the proud distinction which Her Majesty has conferred upon you. and which is the highest ambition of every soldier to possess. The high position which you hold in your regiment, shows that you are not less distinguished by your exemplary conduct than by your gallantry in the field.

It now only remains for me to fasten this decoration on your breast,, and to offer you my best wishes, and I am sure those of all present, that you may long wear it in health, honor, and prosperity. The cross was then affixed to to the breast of Ser-geant-Major Lucas by the gallant General. General Cameron then said, to give more honour to thn occasion, he would call for three cheers for the Queen.

The call was responded to most heartily. General Cameron then called for three cheers for Sergeant-Major Lucas. Three deafening- cheers were given until the welkin rang again.

The whole force then re-formed line ; after -which they marched in slow and quick time past the Genera! and staff, salutingl on. each occasion when passing. Contiguous columns were afterwards formed, the artillery taking up their position on the flanks, and skirmishing companies were thrown out. The companies having displayed their ability in this respect, the recall was sounded, and was succeeded by file-firing which brought the proceedings to a close. The forces were then marched off the ground, the regiments encamped at Ota'iuhu turning off to their destination, an.l the forces in the barracks in Auckland directing their steps to this city by way of Parnell. The following is the list of Quick Marches, played by the excellent Band of the 40Hi Resiment, under the able conduetorship of Sergeant Murrell :— "Achilles," "Ever of Thee," " Trompeter Fren<lent," " Tripster," " Shells of the Ocean/ " Louisen," "Sieges," "'Olivia," "Frederick William," " Lord Darigan," " Rudolphs," " Soldater Lust." We regret that we weve unable to procure the lists of music played by the bands of the other regiments on'the ground.— Daily Southern Cross, Oct. 3.

The following is the Garrison Order ifsued by Lieutenar.t-General Cameron, 0.8., to the troops under his commund, after the presentation of the Victoria Cross, on Thursday : —

" Head Quarters, Auckland, "October 2nd, 1862. " Ist. The Lieu tenant-General has much pleasure in announcing to tjie troops serving in his command, that at a general parade held at Elleislie, near Auckland, on the 2nd October, 1862, he had the satisfaction of presenting to Sergeant Major Lu<-.as, 40th Regiment, the decoration of the Victoria Cross, which her Majesty has been graciously pleased to cuiifer. on that, non-commissioned officer, to commemorate the act of bravery performed by him at the campaign at the Waitara, and which is described, in the extract taicen from the London Gazette, herewith published for general information.

"The Lieutenant-General trusts that the troops will feel from the honour it "has" been Sergeant Lucas's good fortune to win; how highly bravery and devotion are appreciated by their Queen and country, whatever may be the nature of the service, or however distant the field on which they are displayed. " Extract, from the London Gazette, of the 17th of July, 1862. —Color-Sergeant John Lucas, 40th itegiment. On the 18th March, 1861, Color Sergeant Lucas acted as sergeant of the party of the 40th Regiment employed as skirmishers to the right of No. 7 redoubt, and close to the Hurangi bush, facing the left of the position occupied by the natives. At about four o'clock p.m., a very heavy and welldirected fire was suddenly opened upon them from the bush and the high ground on the left, three men being wounded simultaneously, two of them mortally- Assistance was called for in order to have them carried to the rear. A file was immediately sent, but had scarcely arrived when one of thorn foil, and Lieutenant Rees was wounded at the same time. Color-Sergeant Lucas, under a very heavy fire from the rebels, who were not more than 30 yards distance, immediately ran up to the assistance of this officer, and sent one man with him to the rear. Ke then took charge of the arms belonging to the killed and wouuded men, and maintained his position until the arrival of supports, under Lieutenants Gibson and V/helan."-—By command," (Signed), Gt. S. Whttmore, Major Assistant Military Secretary. I —Daily Southern Cross, Oct. 4. The Chin use Quarter.—Most persons are i aware that a portion of the National School Reserve I is almost monopolized by the Chinese population of the township. Some time since the shops fronting1 Forest-strret were principally inhabited by Europeans, but one after another the latter have left the neighborhood, driven away, perhaps as much as anything else, by the unsavoury presence of Celestial ratepayers. Recently the Princess Alice, lately notorious for being the resort of the worst specimens, ot that infest Oastlemaine, has been let to Chinese, who are converting it into eating houses, opium shops, &c. The whole vicinity is characterised by sights, sounds, and smells, that we cannot meet with nnywheve, and which makes the pedestrian involuntarily hasten his speed as he approaches the place. Gambling is practised in the Chinese quarter almost uninterruptedly, for several tenements are devoted to nothing else. At most hours of the day and night these <• hells" are crowded with infatuated worshippers of the fickle goddess, and every now and then a desperate row arises among ihem. Then arises such a babel of sounds as would proceed from a domestic commotion in a menagerie of gorillas. Charges and counter-charges of cheating are uttered with extraordinary volubility, accompanied by gestures so furious, that the mild phlegmatic Mongolian seems on a sudden to be changed intio a wild beast rampant. Why tne police toierate these gambling dens is more than we can understand, for if European blacklegs were to set up a roulette table, or any other game of hazard, th*y would soon find their way to the lock-up. It is probable that many of the thefts committed by Chines-e are attributable to their losses in gambling, and we have noticed tnat most of the suicides that have occurred among them have resulted from a similar cause. In the interests of justice and society the practice denounced shoald not be permitted,M.A.M'ril Sept. 29. .

Cheap Travelling .—A gentleman who'arrived in Carson City a few days since, procured his bed and board after leaving Salt Lake, and until arriving in Carson, for the sum total of thirty-five cents. He had nothing but paper money; except the thirtyfive cents, and landlords preferred giving away their grub rather than their change. It is said that paper money passes current beyond Salt Lake.— Sacr& mento l/nian.