THE WELLINGTON BATTERY OF THE ARTILLERY REGIMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 70, 21 September 1881, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON BATTERY OF THE ARTILLERY REGIMENT.

♦> DISPLAY OF DKILL. Nearly 500 persons, a large proportion of whom were ladieß, assembled at the Volunteer Drill Shed la9t oveninff to witnoss a display of drill by the D Battery of the NewZealand Regiment of Artillery, under the command of Lieutenant M'Credie, assisted by Sub-Lieutenant Lyon. Among the spectators were observed his Excellency Sir James Prendergast, the Acting-Governor, attended by his private secretary, the Hon. W. Rolleston (Minister for Defence), Colonel Header (tlnder-Seoretarv for Defence), Hon. W. W. Johnston (Postmaster-General), Lieut. -Colonel Pearoe (the officer in command of the district), Majors Pitt (of NelBon) and Hamlin (of Auckland), Dr. Collins (honorary surgeon), several members of both branches of the Legislature, and numerous officers and others connected with the Wellington Guards, Naval Brigade, City Eifles, and other corps. The Drill Shed was profusoly decorated with bunting for the ocoasion. The members of the Artillery corps, numbering about 40, mustered shortly before 8 o'clock, at whioh hour the " display " commenced. The men were told off into four detachments, and after being drawn up in line with the battery of fonr guns in position, were inspected by Lieutenant Colonel Pearco. They were then put through a series of movements in connection with field gun drill. In these the men acquitted themselves, on the whole, with very great credit. Itlwould bo impossible to enter into a detailed description of the exercised and the manner in which each command wa3 fulfilled. It will be sufficient to state that in dismounting and remounting the batteries, forming squares to receive cavalry, countermarching, &0., tho men were seen to preat advantage, the evolutions being performed with remarkable precision and accuracy. Frequently the spectators were unable to restrain their feelings of approbation, which they demonstrated . with unmistakable, and occasionally enthusiastic, warmth. The detachments had to contend against the disadvantages of the somewhat limited space at their disposal for the working of four guns. The greater credit is therefore due to thorn for the degceo of excellence to whioh they have attained — a state of proficiency which affords incontrovertible proof of the eager interest taken by them in their work and the close attention devoted to drill during tho past. At the conclusion of the " display," Lieutenant-Colonel Pearee addressed a few words to the men, whom be complimented in no meagre terms on their efficiency and appearance. Ho also mentioned that his Excellency the Aoting - Governor, who had fonnd it necessary to leave some minutes previously, had requested him to convey the pleasure he had experienced in attending tho display, whioh he regarded as highly successful. Major Pitt followed in a similar strain, and the men were dismissed amid the loud plaudits of the spectators.