THE ROYAL REVIEW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 6

THE ROYAL REVIEW.

The great review, taking it by and largo, has been probably the most important incident of the Royal tour. It tested the resources of the Defence- Department, it provided, for the first time in New Zealand, a huge body of troops acting in concert, it showed the visitors the -sort of men we build in this colony, and, above ail, it satisfied the public. There were no disappointments. Cowper seems to have had a very poor idea of Royal reviews if his “Table Talk” gives his honest impressions’—

Guards, mechanically formed in ranks, ■ Playing, -at boat of drum, their martial pranks, Shouldering -and standing as if s-‘uck to stone, While Condescending Majesty looks ’on.

There was little of the stiff -precision of the Continental soldiery in the movements cf the troops yesterday. But there was life, bustle, action, swing and ardour, prompt obedience to command, bus-in-es-s----energy, and the sensation of latent strength; while, above all, one remarked the spirit of emulation between company and company, and battalion and 'battalion,, and a genuine .enthusiasm, as though offi--cers and men, were taking a pride in their work,'as indeed they were. It was an education for soldier and civilian alike. There were faults and weaknesses, most of them inseparable from a parade so hastily organised, but the “ newness ” of some of the recently-formed companies was not at all in evidence. The marching,- so the military experts tell us, was more than creditable, the drill in other respects good, and the general organisation admirable. It was on the Cadets that public interest was chiefly centred. So much had been made of this feature, it had been -so persistently advertised, that expectation was on tip-toe. Here, again, the authorities bad every reason to congratulate themselves. His Royal Highness, whose . experience of youthful soldiery is far from limited, declared, in all sincerity, that the body of Cadets was’the finest he -had ever seen. So struck was he, indeed, with their brave display that he specially expressed the hope that the Gfovernment would take measures to put the -system on a permanent basis. We know already that the Minister of Defence has some comprehensive scheme in his mind for organising the school Cadets of -the colony, and he will surely be gratified by this expression of Royal approval. The general effect of the great mass .of troops an motion was strikingly impressive ; / the advance in review order, the massive line of battalion quarter-columns, was almost thrilling, and the shouted orders, the skirl of pipes, the beat of drums, and the blare. of bands, combined to rouse the immense crowd ol sightseers to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. For a brief moment the people were lifted above earth. Yet the tout ensemble was something less than grand. The variety of uniforms, red, blue and kharfci, in its score of shades, mode -the mere colour scheme harsh and l unpleasing. Kharki, admirable though it is. for work-a-day wear, is not the dress for review. Lord Roberts, wise in his generation, preserves the red! tunic “ for recruiting purposes,” because he knows that it catches the eye and charms the heart. The very quality which makes it unsuitable for the field’ -of battle commends it for parade purposes. And even if kharki must be the -only wear, surely it would be well to abolish the old uniforms of blue and red entirely. The review saved the whole celebrations in connection with the Royal visit to Christchurch from any charge of dulness. The weather, of course, has been on our side from the -beginning, ■but we think that, apart from circumstances of time and season, the city may fairly claim to have scored a success. To' the Royal Visit Commissioners, to the Government Commissioner and to the local committees we must give whole-hearted praise. There have been difficulties and there have been weeks of solid work. The task has been carried through without complaint, "with energy and with unselfish enthusiasm. ' The public have done their part and the Government has applied itself to the general organisation with characteristic zeal. The outcome of all these preparations cannot fail to have been gratifying to their Royal Highnesses, who will leave us with the knowledge that Canterbury is not the least loyal, not the least patriotic among the provinces of the Empire.