CELEBRATION OF HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 122, 26 May 1868, Page 2

CELEBRATION OF HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.

Although the weather on Sunday night was sufficiently threatening to damp the most sanguine anticipations of the many who were looking forward to the holiday in celebration of her Majesty's 49fch birthday, the day dawned brightly on Monday morning, and fully vindicated the prestige bo long established on such occasions by what is generally known as 'Queen's weather. Early in the morning the city assumed a v/ery lively appearance, the streets being thronged with numbers of holiday seekers,

both from town and country, and also by the members of the various Volunteer companies, who were to take part in a review and shamfight announced to take place at the Botanical Gardens in honor of the day. About 10 o'clock a muster of the Volunteers took place at the parade ground at the rear of the Institute, and they shortly afterwards started for the scene of the martial operations which were po form so prominent a part in the day's arogramme, preceded by the Band, (who ppeared for the first time in their new uniforms,) and followed by Mr B. Crisp, with his band of juveniles, who, however, did not muster so strongly as at a later period of the day. The sun shone out cheerily about this time, and imparted additional brilliancy to the scene. Owing doubtless to the exceedingly unpropitious weather of the two previous days, the attendance of visitors from the country was not so great as on previous occasions, but the troops, on reaching the Gardens, found a very goodly number of spectators there. The force present at the review was, we are informed, about 270 strong, including the City Artillery -under Captain Pitt, the Wakapuaka Artillery, under Captain Slater, No. 1 City Rifles, under Captain M'Tavish, the Cadet Artillery, under Captain Garrard, the No. 1 Cadet Rifles, under Captain Wigzell, and the No. 2 Cadet Rifles, (who made their first appearance in public on this occasion) under Lieut. W. Nicholson. It had, we understand, been arranged that the Wakapuaka Company, with their 121b Armstrong gun, the Waimea Company, and the Artillery Cadets, with their 61b. field gun, should attack the City Artillery forming the point d'appui with their howitzer, the City Rifles, and No. 1 and 2. Cadet Companies. Owing, however, to the Waimea river being up,* the Waimea Company did not reach town' until after noon, and the No. 1 Cadets were appointed to take their place. Whether or not the original programme was adhered to in its main features, we are quite unable to state, though a document written in Japanese, a language with which our acquaintance is as yet very imperfect, was extensively handed about as being the original order of the day, with what truth we are unable to state. Certain, however, it is that several brilliant manoeuvres which the roar of the guns, and the rapid movements of the troops invested with a most mysterious influence on^ the minds of the spectators present were brought to a satisfactory conclusion, without any very serious personal injury to the gallant individuals who took part in them, although one of the Artillery Cadets got severely scorched in defending his gun from the onslaught which, it appears, was illegitimately made on it by the adult Artillerymen, and however hotly the combatants may have contended for the victory on the mimic field of battle, all their differences were forgotten under the invigorating influences of the refreshments served out to them immediately after the contest had been brought to a conclusion. It is only fair to state, in justification of the mental obscurity in which the general public were involved as regards the result of the fight, that it remained a moot point during the day amongst the Volunteers themselves, which was the victorious party. There may be a certain expediency on the part of the 'powers that be' in not allowing the programme to be made public, but complaints were rife amongst the spectators on the ground in relation to this subject. After luncheon the men fell in, and wheeling into line, fired a feu de joie, the Artillery commencing ; they then presented arms, and three loud cheers were given for her Majesty. After going through the manual exercise, three sides of a hollow square were formed, and Sergeant J. Sharp, of No, 1 City Rifles, the winner of the District Medal of the year, having been summoned from the ranks, Mrs Morse addressed him in the following words: — Sergent Sharp, I feel " great pleasure in performing the offlcs which has been assigned to me. to-day — that of presenting you with the district prize medal. A.t all times I have taken much interest in the Volunteer movement, but especially in the rifle shooting, and in which you have so lately distinguished yourself, and I hope the high score made by you in the late rifle contest will act as a stimulus to those of the Nelson Volunteers who have yet to become victors. You will, I am sure, set a 'double value on the prize from its being presented on the anniversary of our beloved Queen's birthday, as well as being your reward for making the highest score in the Nelson Province, on which allow me to congratulete you, and to present you with the medal.

Mrs Morse then pinned the medal to Sergeant Sharp's breast, and the ceremony concluded. Sergeant-Major Aldborough was then called to the front, when Captain Pitt announced that the Artillery Company, in recognition of his services Jin connection with that corps, had presented him with a handsome suit of regimentals, which he wore on the occasion. Major Morse then addressed the assembled Volunteers; thanking them on behalf of "the Government for their presence there that day, especially the country compauies, in spite of distance and the uncertain state of the weather, and congratulating the whole body on their efficiency and soldierlike appearance. Three cheers were then given for Mrs Morse, for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh, for Sergeant Sharp, and for Captains Pitt, Blundell, and M'Tavish, and the men were then marched to the Orderly Room, where they were dismissed. The free luncheon provided by Mr B. Ciisp at the Temperance Hall for the children of the province, and which, in fact, lay open to all comers, adults or juveniles, during the whole afternoon, was very numerously patronised. Indeed Mr Crisp states that not less than 3000 individuals partook of refreshments, which were of very good and substantial character. The exhibition of tbe magic lantern in the Hall later in the evening, also attracted a very large concourse of spectators. The day -was brought to a conclusion by a Volunteer Ball, given at the Provincial Hall, which, by common consent, is allowed to be the most brilliant which has ever taken place in Nelson. The hall had been very tastefully and effectively decorated for the occasion, with an infinite number of flags, bayonets disposed in devices, &c, <fec, and when the ball was at its height, the scene from the galleries was most brilliant, the uniforms of the various Volunteer Companies mingling most pleasingly with the vari-colored teilettes of the ladies present. We are told that the guests on this occasion numbered not less than 250, comprising members of all classes of society, and it is most gratifying to be able to add that the evening passed off most agreeably, the only drawback being the crowded state of the room during the greater part of the eve ning, -which made dancing a somewhat'difficult enjoyment. The stewards acquitted themselves most efficiently, and the refreshments, which were provided by Mr Cother, considering the unexpected number of guests who attended the ball, were all that could be desired, as were also the musical arrangements. Although it might have been anticipated that the fatigue involved in the programme of the day would have tended to bring the ball to an earlier conclusion, dancing was kept up with the utmost spirit until half-past 4 this morning, when this very successful ' affair terminated.