QUEEN'S CADET BATTALION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8323, 10 November 1887, Page 5

QUEEN'S CADET BATTALION.

The Queen's Cadet Battalion, tbe only battalion of cadets in the Colony, made their first appearance in public yesterday, when they paraded in honour of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. The impression they produced was decidedly favorable, and should help, in no email degree, the efforts now being made to obtain tangible support from the public in the shape of funds. The Battalion mustered on the Drillshed Ground at a quarter past twelve o’clock. Major Eichards was in command, and the strength of the various Companies was as follows r Christ’s College—Captam ~. 42 High Schoob-Gaptsin Lawrence %. SS No. 1 Queen’s—CaptainAyera... ... 50, No. 2 „ —Captain Harfe... 40 No. 3 „ —Captain Ritchey ... 43 No. 4 „ —Captein ffitpftloy ... 52 Band—Bandmasterßowlea Total... ... ... ... 299 The appearance of the battalion whs very creditable. The Christ's College and High School Companies, the only ones at present armed, maintained the reputation they have long held for smartness. The recently raised Companies looked exceedingly well in their neat new uniforms, and did their best to emulate the older corps. The Companies were drawn up, as usual, in column, then wheeled into line and back into column, after which they formed column of fours, and marched off theground headed by their drums and fifes. The youngsters composing the band deserve great credit for the proficiency which, under Mr Bowles* tuition, they have attained in the short time they have been at practice. They played with much spirit and creditable accuracy. The band consists of a boss drum, seven side drums, piccolo, six flutes, twenty fifes, and two triangles. The marching and wheeling of the Cadets were, on the whole, good. The College and High School boys did as well as adult volunteer companies. The senior companies of those recently raised were also very steady, and the little fellows composing Nos. 3 and 4 acquitted themselves wellconsideringthatthey had to endeavour to keep pace with much bigger lads. The plan of forming the lads into Companies according to size has certainly made two fine corps of tall boys, but it is questionable whether it is altogether desirable to have all the smallest boys in one Company. The line of .march was along Cashel street to Manchester street, down that street to Eilmore street, thence to the North belt by way of Colombo street, along the Belt to Victoria street, and hack to the Drillshed through Victoria, Colombo and Cashel streets. On arrival at the Drillshed the Battalion formed quarter - column, and Major Eichards briefly addressed the boys. He could not dismiss them, he said, without saying that they had behaved exceptionally well, and that he had been very much pleased with the march out. The behaviour of the new Companies had been very good. That of the College and High School Cadets was always good, and he hoped that a proper spirit of rivalry would spring up, that the new Companies would try to beat them, though they had had a rather long start. _ He had heard hardly one boy talk during the march. The officers had done what little they had to do well. The band was wonderfully good, and he did not know how Mr Bowles had managed, in the short space of a month, to bring it to such a state of proficiency. The parade was then dismissed. The turnout was witnessed by a very considerable number of people, the cadets being followed through the streets by a largo crowd, who expressed many encomiums on the young Volunteers.