BIG PARADE AT WELLINGTON.'

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 10

BIG PARADE AT WELLINGTON.'

AN INSPIRING SPECTACLE

INSPECTION BY GENERAL

HAMILTON

(PRKSS ASSOCIATION* .ELECI. AM.)

WELLINGTON, June 3

Tho review of Wellington City and Suburban Ter-Uorials/'whichYwas held in Newtown Park tliis morning by General Sir lan Hamilton, InspectorGeneral of the Oversea Forces, in honour of the forty-ninth anniversary of the birth of lying .George, proved- the most brilliant and impressive military ceremony held in Wellington for somo time. Tho morning was- fine, though Hazy, and thero wa3 a nip of winter in the air. Owing to the wet weather, however, the parade ground was still wet, which Tendered, marching ..difficult, but tiie troops nevertheless acquitted themselves" ere :!it_.b.y. Altogether 1418 officers,and men, besides General Hamilton and the '• Headquarters' Staff, and the Hon." J. Allen (Minister of Defence), participated in the proceedings, which were witnessed by about 10,000 people..; . -. : ;' ; ' "No sooner had General 1 Hamilton and the members of the official party taken up their positions, iv advance of the brigade, and immediately in front of die flagstaff, than'the General gave tho signal to break.(or. unfurl): the flag at the masthead. ' A" Junior Cadet stationed at the foot..of. the.flagpolo'performed the ceremony, and a large Union Jack fluttered out gaily in the breeze. The whole of the troops and the official oarty camo to the salute, and tho D Batteiy commenced to' fire the Royal salute of twenty-one .guns, while tne sth Regimental Band played the National Anthem. It. was an inspiring spectacle, and-was added to by the raalo members-of tho huge crowd who, with few exceptions.. uncovered their heads to the fluttering of the flag and the strains of the band. The guns boomed out.their salute to the Sovereign, and each, report was marked by a tongue of. flame and a cloud of smoke; which cOuld be* seen plainly from the park. The Royal.saluto : having been fired, Sir lan Hamilton/ accomnaiiied by Mr Allen, and: preceded*by General Godlej and the Staff officials, inspected tho troops, a ceremony which occupied some ten minutes." .This was followed by tho march past, the evolution being carried out "very finely ■ The ejM»ht_hgenters, of whom 44 paraded, and 13 other veterans,, were " very .cordially greeted as they passed the saluting point.- At the call of the Officer Commanding, three hearty cheers wore

-i.V'i for the King by the a-*se;nb!ed >:,".*-ts and- Uon-s and Ik" crowd, tiie ':••.:.-ul again p.ajing. "Gou Save the King." General Hamilton then presented a sixteen years' New Zealand long-service medal to'Se-geant T. W. Brown, of the D Battery, who served, with the First Pontin-rent in South Africa. Sir lan Hamilton latei inspected the nursing sisters and veterans, nnd a portion of the New Zealand Railway Corns, who pre at present encamped at Mahanga Bay. *

»As the Genera! loft tho ground he was given three hearty cheers by the assembled crowd. General HauHJton will leave for En*-1.--d to-morrow afternoon by the Ruahine.

(SrECI«. to "TT.- r»»e« '*. WELLINGTON. Juno S. The review of the City Territorials before Sir lan Ham-if on today was a success in every way. the rn.rch-past was a brilliant spectacle, and the men were cheered by ten thousand onfocl.ers. who were mos. interested in t/io proceedings. Tno popu__j_cy of the movement was amply demonstrated, the great concourse of people bei.ig most enthusiastic. Certam.y so far as this part oi the country is concerned, tho anii militarists must be in a very feeble minority. The. .'ex-Contingent tnen wero Heartily cheereu. The ..ayor oi_ Wellington, who was an interested onlooker, said he thougn. t'-e display was an exceptionally fine one, and that it would stimulate the interest of the public in the defence movement.

AUCKLAND

(PR__>:S ASSOCIATION TEI-ECRAMA •AUCKLAND. June 3^ Tho King's birthday was celebrated as a general holitay. The weather was cold and heavy showers fell. A review of four thousand Territorials was held, and the Auckland Winter Race Meeting attracted many spectators. The school children had a" holiday, but in many cases the scholars assembled in tho morning to salute tho flag.