CAMBRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3602, 28 May 1873, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE.

[feom otjb own cobbespondent.] Satukday, the 24th instant, was quite a gala day at Cambridge. It had been arranged that the Cambridge and Te Awamutu Cavalry Volunteer Corps should be brigaded on that day, and should meet for parade and inspection at Cambridge. Fortunately the weather was fine, so that nothing occurred to ttiar the day's proceedings. About half-past nine o'clock the Cambridge corps fell in, and under the command of Captain Runeimun started acroßs the rirer to meet the Te Awamutu troop. About a mile on the south side of theWiiikato the Te Awamutu squadron was observed to be advancing, and the Cambridge troop at once opened out, and the Te Awamutu troop marched through their ranks, the Cambridge squadron, as the junior corps, falling in behind. The brigade immediately started for the parade-ground (Mr. Taylor's paddock), which had been kindly granted by the proprietor to the Cambridge troop as a drill and parade-ground during their training. On their arrival there a most interesting ceremony took place. A set of colors was presented to the Jo Awamutu troop by Mrs. Kay, wife to Lieutenant Kay, of the To Awamutu Volunteer Cavalry, while a like honor was conferred upon the Cambridge corps, by the presentation of a set of colors to the troop by Miss Bunciman, sister to Captain Runeiman, the officer commanding the corps. After the brigade had been formed into three sides of a square, the colors were then brought forward by the color-guard, formed of two men and the Sergt.-Major from each company. They were then placed upon & tripod in the ccntre of the square and consecrated by the Revs. T. Stewart and C. Brady, the honorary chaplains of the two corps. After this had been done, the fair donors came forward and presented tl e colors to the respective corps, — Sergeat-Major Bertram laking charge of the To Awamutu colors, and Sergefiut-Miijor Kirkwood doing the same for the Cambridge Troop. Colonel Lyon then came forward, and in a most eloquent and impressive speech, euforced upon the men the necessity of defending and upholding those colors with which they hod just been presented, and at the same time expressed his conviction that if over they ihould be unfurled in action, they would be followed by true and stout hearts, and that every man would die rather than see them trampled upon or disgraced. The colorn themselves, which are most beautifully designed and ornamented, were then unfurled and exhibited to the admiring gaze of those preßOut. The Cambridge colors have a scarlet ground, and are beautifully ornamented, and bear the devise "Our llearllis and Homes." The Te Awamutu colon! have a blue ground, and the motto upon them is, " Defence, not Defiance." After thin ceremony had been concluded, the brigade was put through various evolutions by Major Jackson, officer commanding the Volunteer Cavalry in tile Waikato, and was inspected by Colonel Lyon, officer commanding the district. At the termination of the manoeuvres, Colonel Lyon addressed the men, and complimented them upon their efficiency. He congratulated one of the troops (referring to the Cambridge corps) upon the great, improvement noticeable since last parade, and hoped that this improvement would continue. A general district order was then reud by Staff-Sergeaut-Major Fraser, cautioning the men against using their service ammunition, and stating that in future a fine of 2s 6(1 per round would be euforced for every round of service ammunition expended without the order of the officer commanding the corps. The men were then marched back to the township, and dismissed, the men giving three hearty cheers respectively, for the Queen, the fair donors of the colors, for Colonel Lyon, and for each other, before leaving the parade ground. On the colors being marched off by the colorguard, immediately before the corps were dismissed, the cheering was loud and prolonged. Each troop seemed to consider its own colors better than the other, and that the motto was more appropriate than that which was emblazoned upon their comrades' banner. In the ovening, a dinner was held at the

Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, at which were preßent: James Mackay, jun., Esq., Colonel Lyon, Major Jackson, and inuny other gentlemen who bad been invited by the Cambridge oorps. — Captain Kuncimim occupied the chair, —Lieut. Parker and Sub.-Lieut. Fisher occupying the vico-chairs.—Grace having been said by the Kev. Mr. Stewart, the company sat down to dinner.—At its conclusion, the Chairman proposed, " The health of the Queen," which was most enthusiastically received, the company singing " God save the Queen." He then proposed, "'lhe Prince and Princess of Wales," followed by the " Acting-Governor Sir George Arney," which toasts were duly responded to. The next toast proposed wits " The Army and Navy and the Colonial Forces," coupled with the namo of Colonel Lyon, which was duly responded to by that gentleman. —iiajor Hay then pro-

posed, "The health of the Defence Minister" (the Hon. Donald McLean), and stated that from Mr. McLean's thorough knowledge of Maori character and language, and considering his long experience in native affairs, and the great ability with which he had conducted the native and defence administrator, the country Bhould have every confidence that he would, in the present crisis, exert every endeavour to bring matters to a successful and an honorable termination.—llr. Sheath, Inspector of Telegraphs, replied on behalf of Mr. McLean, and thanked the company for the cordial way in which the toast had been received ; and stated his conviction that the work which at present lay before the Grovernment could not be loft in safer bauds than those of Mr. McLean.—Major Jackson then proposed, "The health of Mr. Muckay," which was received with tremendous enthusiasm and long-continued cheering, the company singing, " For he's a jolly good fellow." —[Mr. Mackay's reply to tho toast of his health was telegraphed the next day in full, and appeared in our issue of Monday.] Mr. .Maekay concluded by proposing, " Success and prosperity to the Waikato and its hard-working settlers, coupling with the toast the name of Major Jackson."—Mr. Buttle then proposed, "His Honor the Superintendent," which was duly received and responded.—Cornet Eisher proposed, " The Te Awamutu Corps," which was responded to by Major Jackson. In proposing this (oast, Cornet Fisher alluded to the good feeling which existed between the two corps, and hoped that iL might long continue.—The next toast on the list was, " Our Guests," which was proposed by Mr. J. P. Campbell, and responded to by Major Wilson mid .Mr. Muckay; the latter gentleman, in his reply, expressing his gratitude at tho promptitude with which the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteer Corps had alway3 turned out when they were wanted. — Sub-Inspector Smith proposed, "The Ladies," which was responded to by Major Hay in a very humorous speech.— The next toast oil the list was " The Press," which was responded to by .Mr. Brett for tho Evening Siar, and by Mr. Campbell for the lVaikato Times und the llsrat.d.— Tho health of the clergymen who consecrated the banners was then proposed by Staff Sergeant-Major Eraser, and responded to by the Kev. T. Stewart.—This taijh.d the proceedings, and " Auld Lang Syne" having been Bung by tho Assembly, the party broke up. Nothing occurred to disturb the harmony of the evening. The dinner wes provided by host Pearson, of tho Duke of Edinburgh Hotel.