DOMINION DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 28 September 1908, Page 2

DOMINION DAY.

CELEBRATION IN NELSON. SATUEDAY AFTERNOON'S PROCEEDINGS. VOLUNTEERS AT TRAFALGAR PARK. The first anniversary of the proclamation of New Zealand as a Dominion was celebrated in Nelson on Saturday. In the morning the school children assembled at the Boys' Ceutral School to salute the Flag! and receive Dominion Day commemorative medals. (A report of the proceedings appeared in Saturday's issue.) In the afternoon the Volunteers paraded, and headed by the Garrison Band, marched to Trafalgar Park. There was a good muster of all the companies, with the exception of tht Bearer Corps, the Cadets especially being well represented. Tho Battery, with two guns and two waggons leading, the Brigade marched via Harley and Bridgestreets iuto Collingwood-street, and crossing the river, proceeding by way of Grove-street to the Park, where the colours were trooped. At the saluting base were Lieut.Colonel Joyce, 0.C.D., with tho following staff: Surgeon LieutenantColonel Wright, R.A.M.C., Chaplain Lieutenant-Colonel MacKenzie; Major Coleman; Chaplain Captain Baker; Captains Simpson, Trask, Houlker, Glover and King, and Lieuts. Irvine, Stringer, and Hintz. The Brigadier was Lieutenant-Colonel Harkness, and Captain Stiles acted as Brigade Major. On arrival at the parade ground the troops were inspected by the 0.C.D., who was accompanied by a large staff. The brigade waa drawn into line, and addressed by the Mayor (Mr Piper). Mr Piper remarked that it was just 66 years since the first immigrants landed upon these shores, and there were but a few of them left today. They were brave men and women, and were led by a great man, Colonel Wakefield. They did not think possibly that years later the nation they had founded would have grown to nearly a million people, and that the land would be closely settled, cities built and connected by railways, or that the country would have become so important commercially. He trusted that New Zealand would as a young nation unite from Auckland to the Bluff to celebrate Dominion Day, and that it would make for their consolidation, and show that they had outgrown their narrow provincialism. Mr Piper advocated the abolition of the provincial anniversary holidays in favour of a general celebration on Dominion Day. (Applause.) The Brigade inarched past in column, and afterwards in quarter column. No. 3 Company College Cadets were placed first. No. 3 Company College Cadets 2nd, and Nelson Rifles 3rd. The drill on the whole wasloose, but very little attention being given nowadays to ceremonial work. , There were several lapses, and the Garrison Band omitted to play the "General Salute." Ex-Captain A. T. Maginnity, President of the H. Battery Old Members' Association, then presented the OU Members' Shield to Colonel J-^-te. who subsequently handed it to Captain Madigan, O.C. the H Battery, who in turn handed it to Lieut. .T. T. Brough, whose section had won -t for the first time. In making the presentation, Mr Maginnity said it was a very pleasant duty as President if the Association to hand the shield to tho Battery, a company in which great interest was taken, having been closely identified with Nelson since 1873, as well as having taken pan in the Parihaka campaign. The first commander of the H Battery, said Mr Maginnity, was a man for whom they had unbounded respect aud regard — lie referred to the late Colonel Pitt, who had under him as Lieutenants at tbat time Messrs J. T. Sadd and Chas. Hunter-Brown. The late Dr. Leggatt next took command of the Battery; then followed himseli; men csCaptains Hyde, Topliss, and then the ' present commander, Captain, Mad'.gan. Mr Maginnity referred to the fact that tho shield had been manufactured entirely in Nelson, and by ex-Battery members (Messrs Kitchingman and Brown, sivler work, and ; E. Nalder woodwork)'; Messrs Brown and Kerr being the makers. In asking Colonel Joyce to accept the shield, Mr Maginnity assured tho Battery that the Old Members would watch with interest the future welfare of their old company, and expressed honour the old flag and stick together. Colonel Joyce hoped that the presentation of the shield would be an incentive to other units to try and got a shield of their own for competition. In conclusion, Colonel Joyce expressed himself as well pleased with the muster of the Volunteers. Sub-division "D, " under Sergeant L. Sherwood, were the winners of the shield for the first year of the competition. The shield will be hung in the Battery Room at the Drill Hall. Colonel Joyce then presented Quartermaster vSergeant. Wimsett, of the H. Battery, with a twelve years' long service medal, congratulating the recipient on his long and efficient service, and on retiring his company gave three cheers for Quartermaster Wimsett. The Volunteers then marched to Central Trafalgar-street, where they wcro dismissed. Tho following is the parade state: — H Battery, 52, Captain Madigan; Stoke Rifles, 34. Captain Hammond; Waimea Rifles, 30, Captain Arnold; Nelson Riflete, 31, Lieutenant Johnson (colours, Lieutenant Hill) ; Wakatu Mounted Rifles, 37, Captain Faulkner; Bearer Corps, 10, Surgeon-Major Andrew; College Cadets, No. 1, 42, Captain Mayes; No. 2, 55, Captain McKay; No. 3, 40, Captain Skilton; Public School Cadets, 165; Garrison Band, 23, Bandmaster Berryman. Major Bryant was in comand of No. 1 Battalion, Major Broad of No. 2 Battalion, and Major Gibbs of the State School Cadets. . Staff-Sergts.-Major Redmond and Colclough were also present. The officers afterwards adjournec to the Trocadero, where a capita spread was provided. Lieut. -Colone Joyce presided. Mr Piper, tin Mayor, and ex-Captain Maginnity wero present. There were only three toasts, "The King." "The Offi ccrs' Club," and "The Mayor."