VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 128, 14 November 1885, Page 7

VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

Auckland, November 9. The open-air church parade of the local Volunteers yesterday was the most successful muster of the kind that haa ever been witnessed in Auckland. There were on parade 1,140 men and officers, and, favoured by excellent weather, the march to the Pomain and the preliminary evolutions there formed an imposing and pleasing spectacle. There were many thousands of people in the Domain, more for the purpose of witnessing the sight than of joining in public worship— the latter being a sheer impossibility on account of the vastnees of the crowd, and the unsuitability of the ground for an im mense audience being brought within earshot. There was the utmost decorum observed, however, and as leaflets containing the hymnß to be used on the occasion were distributed broadcast, all could at least join in spirit in the praise. The forces were under the supreme command of Sir George Whitmore, whe was attended by Captains J. M. Dargaville and Carl Schmitt. ! For the occasion they were divided into three battalions, and the parade state of each was as under : —No. 1 battalion, in charge of Captain Commandant Leßoy : Auckland Naval Artillery, 91 seamen and petty officers, 1 captain, and 3 lieutenats ; Thames Naval Artillery, 52 seamen and petty officers, 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants ; Devonport Naval Artillery, 49 seamen and petty officers, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and 1 chaplain ; Ponsonby Naval Artillery, 56 seamen and petty officers, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and 1 chaplain ; Coast Guards, 58 seamen and petty officers, 1 captain, and 2 lieutentants. No. 2 battalion, in command of Captain Dignan : A Battery Artillery, 46 gunners and supernumeraries. I captain, 2 lieutenants, and 1 surgeon ; 0 Battery, 57 gunners and supernumeraries, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and 1 chaplain ; Auokland Engineers, 40 sappers and supernumeraries', 1 field constructor, 1 captain, and 2 lieu tenants ,; Victoria Rifles^fiO rank and file 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants j City Guards,

11 rank and file, 1 oaptain, Uieutenant, and 1 chaplain ; Hobson Rifles, 42 rank and file, 1 captain, and 1 lieutenant; Thames' Rifle Rangers, 36 rank and file 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants j Whangarei Rifles, 35 rank and file, 1 oaptain and 2 lieutenants j Wairoa Rifles, 30 rank and file, 1 oaptain, and 2 lieutenants. No. 3 Battalion, under captain Mahon : Royal Veterans, 56 rank and file, 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants ; Newton Rifles, 44 in the rankß, 1 captain, 2 lieutenantß ; Ponsonby Rifles, 41 in the ranks, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 aurgeonj College Rifles, 50 in the ranks, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants; Gordon, Rifles, 41 in the ranks, 1 oaptain, 2 lieu tenants ; Queen's Own Rifles, 45 in the ranks, 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants. The Auckland Cavalry headed the column with a muster of 25 under command of Captain Seccombe and 2 lieutenants. The column was formed up in the line headed by the Thames Naval Artillery Band, numbeing 18, and moved off to the Domain via Grafton Road. The Auckland Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Morris, with 23 instruments, headed the second battalion. The ambulance corps was in charge of Dr. Dawson. The principal service was conducted by Bishop Cowie, assisted by Rev. H. G. S. Walpole, while the Roman Catholics were in a separate part of the field addressed by Key. Father MacDonald. A collection taken up for repairing military graves in the Cemetery realised the handsome sum of £44, although thousands in the crowd were not asked to contribute. After service marching order was reformed and the Volunteers marched back to town.