VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11252, 26 April 1897, Page 2

VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE

The annual church parade of the Garrison corps was held yesterday morning. The Christchurch and Lyttelton corps, to the latter of whom free railway passes were issued, mustered on the drillshed ground at 10.30 a.m., the strength of the various corps being as follows: —Lyttelton Naval Artillery, Lieutenant-Commanding Joyce, 51; Mounted Eifles, Captain Snow, 29; E Battery, Captain Donald, 25; N Battery, Captain MTntyre, 38; Canterbury Engineers, Lieutenant Anderson, 34; City Guards, Captain Creswell, 34 ; Christ’s College Eifles, Lieutenant Smith, 30 ; City Eifles, Lieutenant Hawdon, 38; Garrison Band, Sergeant Derry, 18; total, 305. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, the officer commanding the district, was in command of the parade. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis, commander of the Canterbury Battalion, Majors Slater and Wolfe, Surgeon-Captain Irving, Captain Day, acting-major, and Captain Hobday, acting-adjutant of the battalion ; Staff Sergeant-Major Barrett, Battalion Sergeant-Major Poster, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Miller were present. The corps marched to the Cathedral, where there was a very large congregation, and divine service was conducted by the Eev Canon Harper. The Eev W. S. Bean read the lessons, and preached from I. Samuel, xvii, 45, “ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with'a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts.” After the service, at about ten minutes past twelve o’clock, the companies fell in in Cathedral Square, but the band, except two or three members, was missing. The bandsmen, in accordance with their usual somewhat objectionable practice, had not gone into the Cathedral with the other volunteers, but remained outside to pass away the time in any way which pleased them till the end of the service. This came sooner than they expected; and when the companies fell in to return to the parade ground, most of the musicians were absent. Consequently the volunteers marched back to the drillshed without music; and the band arrived on the parade ground just as the companies were being dismissed. Before dismissing the parade Colonel Gordon addressed the officers; thanked them for the creditable muster, and expressed a hope that all officers would be present at the entertainment to be given to the Eecord Eeign contingent on Wednesday. The various corps presented a very creditable appearance, and their marching was, on the whole, steady and good. The Eangiora Eifle Company paraded thirty-two strong, under the command of Captain Helmore and Lieutenant d’Auvergne, yesterday morning, and attended divine worship at the Church of England. The Eangiora Brass Band played the company to and from church. The Eev F. P. Fendall, chaplain of the corps, preached an appropriate sermon, and he was assisted in the service by the Eev F. Dunnage.