IN THE NELSON DISTRICT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 26 June 1911, Page 5

IN THE NELSON DISTRICT.

CELEBRATIONS AT T A J? AW ERA. MOTUEKA VALLEY WELL REPRESENTED. (From Our Wakefield Correspondent.) Owing to -the inclement weather the Coronation parade of the Tapawera Mounted Rifles -had to he postponed until Friday, but as many of the men live in parts remote from telegraph and telephone, >vith flooded rivers to cross, word did not reach them in time to notify them of the change. Some others came 20 miles over flood and hill to ifind-'the parade put off, and had to return; home doing 40 long' weary miles for'notliing. However, fair muster assembled to do honour to : the occasion. Acting Captain, Liexitenan-t 11. Faulkner, together with his fellow officers, Lieuts. Rutherford and Forsyth, marshalled the troop, while the staff was. represented by iSurgeon-Ma-jor Hudson, Captain (.Chaplain) O. R. Hewlett, and Captain F. B. Peai"u of the School Cadets, Thete was also a large muster of school children from Tapawera. Tadmov, Motupiko, and Stanley Brook, together with a considerable number of the settlers. Not only the troopers, but also 'the children, had the pleasure of a march past and saluting "Our Flag"—the flag of freedom, which waves over a free people, followed with three cheers for the King. The Chaplain (Cue 'Rev. O. R. Hewlett) had' previously given out the medals in the school play-aground during the morning, and -this was followed with an address to the troopers particularly, and to assembled generally, by Lieut. J. S. Rutherford. The followinq- is a brief summary of an excellent and instructive address to members of B squadron of the Tenth Regiment of Mounted Rifles:—> "I wish you clearly to understand when saluting the Flag we are salul' ing our King. No one present returns, nor takvs' our salute, and the space round the flag i» reserved as the place the King would occupy. Officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of the Mounted Rifles, you are no longer Afo-

lunteers, but belong to the Territorial Forces of New Zealand. Some of ytou nave long distances to travel, and have felt more or less alarmed at the" prospect of 30 parades a year, but this will vanish when you realise thatGeneral Godley has so arranged matters that you can group these parndes in such a way as to make it as easy as possible. To those who are present with us., I would say, 'Do riot grlidge giving your sons the chance of fitting themselves to defend their country, especially when you realise that it will make them, better citizens—and. if they use their opportunities aright —"better men, physically, mentally, and morally.' The message, as I read it from England to New Zealand, is ' You are of age, learn to defend yourselves. We have powerful nations at our doors. There may come a time when possibly we m'ay have our liahds full; therefore ]eam to rely more on yourselves, and take your part in the. defence of this, your corner of the Empire.' •'Loyalty is a great and wonderful cementing power; without loyalty' to each other, a home is merely a collection of discordant persons under one roof. Without loyalty, a nation becomes a nation of sand, drifted about' with every wind that blows, and finally crumbles away altogether. (Turn-, ing to the Mounted Rifles) You are now to be called 'B Squadron' of the Tenth Regiment, and in order to impress on your memory what I am going to say I will make use of the letter 'B.' and ask you to Be manly men, Be smart at your work, Be not only straight? shots but straight "men, Bp loyal to your squadron, to your country, to your Empire, to yotir King and to your God." A'bout 2.&0 p.m. all marched back to> the playground, where they formedup in a hollow square, when the Chaplain conducted the solemn religious service ordered for the occasion; Mi' Rogers. schoolmaster of Motuepilco, played the hymns on the, harmonium; all the asemblage heartily joining iir the singing, and talcing up t'lie' ponses. The whole ceremony was a great success, and will never be forgotten by the children present. The day was perfect, and the surrounding ■in complete harmony 1 with'the solemnity of the proceedings. Lofty sno.wclad mountains on two sides, long ridges covered with, grass and biish on the other two, enclosing»a long, plain dotted with farms, and-a Hooded river down the valley, made a picture seldom seen.

The school 'children of St'oke wiem aiddtfessed by tbeir head' teacher, Mr', D. H. Wihnot, on CcaTfniatiou Day,' which they saluted tb&'flag arid a&iiriiS -t.fci.& National Anthem arid gave throe cheers for .the King -and' Queen.