THE VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11556, 18 April 1898, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

The annual church parade of tho North Canterbury Volunteers was held at tho Cathedral yesterday morning. The total muster was 299, made up as follows: — Lyttelton Navals, under Lieutenant-Com-mander Joyce, 40; Mounted Rifles, Lieutenant Neave, 20; E Battery, Ser-geant-Major Treleaven, 40; Canterbury Engineers, Captain Dougall, 30; North Canterbury Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis, V.D., Major Day, Captain and Adjutant Hobday, Sergeant-Major Foster and Quartermaster-Sergeant Miller; City Guards, Captain Cresswell, 36; College Rifles, ljieutenantSmifcb,3o; City Rifles,Captain Fairbairn, 29; Imperial Rifles, Captain Charlewood, 41. The Queen’s Cadets, under Lieutenant Lane, with a muster of 33, took part in the parade. District-staff Colonel Gordon (in command), Major Slater, V.D., Major Young, V.D., Major Wolfe, V.D., and Surgeon-Major Irving were also present. The service was conducted by Canon Harper, chaplain to .the Christ College Rifles, ; who preached an eloquent sermon suitable to the occasion. There was a crowded congregation, many being unable to find seats. In consequence of the rain yesterday morning, the muster for church parade of the Rangiora Rifle Company was much smaller than usual, only about twenty-five rank and file attending. The company was played to and from the Church of England by the Rangiora Brass Band.