REVIEW OF CADETS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 259, 9 November 1901, Page 5

REVIEW OF CADETS.

PARADE IN THE DOMAIN.

After leaving Government House grounds this morning Sir Hector Macdonald drove to the Outer Domain, and made an inspection of the Auckland Schools Cadet Brigade. There was a very large attendance of the public, and the slopes surrounding the review ground were thronged with spectators. This was about the first opportunity the Auckland public ha%'e had of seeing the whole of the city and suburban cadets brigaded together on parade, and the universal opinion expressed was that the boys made a very fine show. The review today in a way took the place of the volunteer parade, which is usually held on the Sovereign's birthday, but which was for various reasons allowed to fall through eta this occasion. There were about 620 boys on parade, divided into three battalions. The following were the companies who mustered for review: No. 1 Battalion (commanded by Captain McCullough): St. John's College Cadets, 35 rank and file, Captain Abbott; Grammar School Cadets, 50, Sergeant-Major Dineen; King's College Cadets, 40, Captain BiggWither; Eden Cadets, 20, Captain Shepherd. No. 2 Battalion (Captain Dunlop): Napier-street School, 41; Lieutenant Wilson; Wellesley-street School, 51, Captain Burns; Beresford-street, 45, Captain Cousins; Grafton Road. 40; Ponsonby, 30, Captain Darrow; Bayfield School, 30. Captain Robertson. No. 3 Battalion (Captain Robb): Parnell School. 40, Captain Munro; Newton East, 4S; Mount Eden, 40, Captain Brown; Kemuera, 28, Captain

Wernham; Epsom; 29; Devonporfc, 25, Captain Macky; Newmarket, 25, Captain Andrews.

Captain 0. Grant, military instructor to schools, was in command of the brigade, which was drawn up in line for inspection. Just at ten o'clock Sir Hector Macdonald arrived on the parade ground, accompanied by Captain Boscawen, hon. A.D.C., and was received by the parade with the general salute. The Highland pipers arrived on the scene a little before the General, and took np a position in the rear of. the centre company, and played a number of stirring bagpipe marches. The General, accompanied by Capt. Boscawen. Capt. Grant, Mr D. B. McDonald, Mr McLeod, Mr J. McK. Geddes, and others of the Scottish llecep'tion Committee, went over to the right of the line and walked along the front rank, inspecting each company and each individual boy, asking questions, and giving a commendatory word here and there, and winning- the hearts of the Cadets with his soldierly and pleasant niannez-, and arrived at the left end of the front rank, the General passed along- the rear rank, inspecting it as he had done the front one. Then he walked back to the saluting- post for the march-past.

Captain Grant formed the parade from line into column, and the brigade then marched past in review order, headed by the pipers playing the inspiriting music of the Highland regiments. St. John's College, the Senior Cadet Company, headed the march-past. There was a good deal of variety noticeable in the marching, but on the whole the youngsters did exceedingly well, and showed themselves promising material for the volunteers of the future. Sir Hector was greatly pleased with the drilling and marching-, and gave voice to a "Bravo, boys!" or "That's the way to march, lads," as one or two companies better drilled than the others passed the saluting-point. After the three battalions had marched past the brigade returned in quarter-column, with arms at the trail, No. 3 Battalion now leading. Then the cadets marched past again in fours. The General had a very good opportunity of noting their marching and general demeanour, and it was apparent that he was very pleased with the whole turn-out. After marching past for the last time the parade was dismissed, and the General re-entered his carriage, and was driven back to town.