THE PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1416, 10 November 1885, Page 2

THE PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY.

Yes'erday being tho 44th anniversary of the birth of His Royal Highness the Princo of Wales was celebrated right royally throughout the colony. It was observed as a dose holiday in Terauka and Geraldine, all the places of business being shut up. Besides tho various picnics held by pleasure parties from Fimaru in the Geraldine Bush, the great attraction was the Volunteer Review. As has been announced in our columns, preparatiwns have been on foot for some time for this review, and it goes without saying that it pissed off with great success. The first train from the north brought with it the Ashburton Uiflaj and Guard*, and also the Geraldine Rifles*, who, after lauding at the railway station marched to the place selected at the back of the Roman Catholic Church to tho music of the Ashburton Band. The companies were then dismissed for half-an-hotir, and this (iine they spent in having a look round tho town. At 9.30 a.m. the Temuka ttifles fell in, in the Volunteer Hall, and were marched to the common below the Roman Catholic Church. Soon after they were joined by the two compani'B from Ashburton and thn Geraldine Rifles', and all were put through judging "Stance exercise by Major Newall. This was continued up to about half past 11 o'clock, when the companies again fell in and were addressed by Major Newall. He said that on the whole they l had done well, but they required to ' practice. Had thoy been firing at an enemy some of them would have been very harmless, while others would have been sure to do damage. They ought to study judging distance daily. When going to their work tiny could look at an object, make a guess at the distance, pace it, multiply the number of paces by 8 and divide it by 10, and that would give them the number of yards. They had done well, but they required practice, and he hoped they would do better next time. Tho companies were then marched up to the vacant section at the rear of Mr A. Russell's residence, where they awaited the arrival of the Timaru contingent. Tho Timiru men arrived by special train from Timaru and marched to the place where the other companies awaited them to the music of the Timaru Artillery Band, reinforced by three of the Tomuka Band : namely, Messrs Harrison, Rutland, and Proudlock. Soon after reaching the place indicated the companies were formed in marching order, and shortly afterwards Colonel Bailey, attended by Major Young, arrived. The corps represented were as follow : Temuka Rifles, 44—Officers : Captain Hayhurst, and Lieutenants Findlay and White. Geraldine Rifles, 50—Officers : Captain Moore, and Lieutenants Poarpoint and Ward. Ashbnrton Riflep, 54-Officers : Captain Douglas, and Lieutenants Fookes and Dolman. Ashburton Guards, 30—Officers : Captain Purnell, and Lieutenants Clayton and Gundry. Timaru Rifles, 79—Officers : Captain White, and Lieutenants Rhodes and Forgusson. Timaru C. Battery of Artillery, 49 Officers: Major Hamersley and Lieutenants Jackson ami Smithson. Timaru Naval Artillery, 52—Officers : Captain Laing-Meason, and Lieutenant Begg. m Immediately after tho arrival of Colonel Bailey the various companies were marched to the park by column of route, and formed in column by the left, l'lien the column was closed to quarter column on the leading company, and opened out to whee'ing distance, and then wheeled into line from the left. A general salute was given by the line, after which Colonel Bailey put the battalion through the manuil and firing exercises. The Adjutant (M ijor Newall) then, put the battalion through review bayonet exercise, after which they broke into column by the right, and after several other movements the battalion marched pa»t, saluting the Colonel aa they passed. _ The battalion marched to the music of the Timaru Garrison Band, which played so quickly that to keep accurate time with it was not easy. Otherwise the marching of the several companies was very good. The battalion then formed up into quarter column, and, having piled arms broke ofl for lunch. The officers then adjourned to Green Hayes, at the invitation of Captain Hayhurst, wh«re they partook of an exoollaot

luncheon. Besides t»>e various officers above named, there were al«o present at the luncheon the Rev. Mr Hamilton (Chaplain), and Dr Campbell (Surgeon), of the lWuka Rifles. The toasts of "The Que<*n," "The Prince of Wales," and the " The Host and Hostess " were drank enthusiastically. After lunch the battaliofl was formed up into quarter colnmn again, and photographed, and companies were then thrown out for skirmishing, ten rounds of blank amunition having been previously served out to each man. The Timaru Navals and C. Battery formed the fighting line, and the Tinwu Rifles forming the supports, the remainder of the battalion acting as reserve. The skirmishers aud supports, after having maintained a brisk fire for sometime, retired upon the reserve, which advanced to cover them. The reservo then fired several volleys by half companies, and after completely routing the enemy thecompaniesreformed into column, when Colonel Bailey addressed the men. He said that on the whole he was highly pleawad with the attendance, and the way the men behaved. In firing they should keep steady, and never fire without direction from their officers. If they had been iu regulur battle that djy their ammunition would have been short, and they would have been at the mercy of the enemy owing to having been too wasteful. He disapproved of the men shouting and hurrahing in the ranks, and hoped he would never hear such a thing again. He was on the whole very much pleased with them, and ho would now dismiss them. The various companies were then taken over by Major Newall, and shortly afterwards he dismissed such companies as had gone through the judging distance exercise in the forenoon. The three Timaru companies he kept on the ground for a couple of hours longer for the purpose of judging distances, after which he dismissed them. The Ashburton Volunteers had intended to return home by the express but they arrived at the station just as the express was steaming away. They then found themselves in a fix. The evening train does not now go beyond Rangitata, so there appeared no chance but to remain in Teniuka all night. They made their grievance known to the stationmastcr, however, and he telegraphed to headquarters, with the result that the evening train was ordered to go to Ashburton with them. The officers desire that we should express their thanks to the stationmaster, Mr Alderton, for his courtesy and kindness. The Geraldine corps also returned home by the same train, and the Timaru corps by the ordinary evening train. It Bhould not be forgotten that the special train from Timaru brought with it crowds of people, and that people from all parls of the district were also in attendance. During the review in the park very large crowds were present, but constable Morton and another mounted constable from Timaru managed to keep them back, and so there was plenty of room to carry out the different evolutions thit were gone through. On the whole the demonstration was a great success, and will long be remembered in Temuka. In the evening Oplain H*yhurst entertained at a dinner the Temuka Kifle Volunteers, together with a large number of private citizens. A full report of the proceedings will appear in our next issje.