THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7646, 25 May 1886, Page 5

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

The citizens of Auckland enjoyed high holiday yesterday in commemoration of the 6Tth anniversary of the birthday of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. Better weather could not have been wished for, and the various amusements passed off with eclat befitting the day. The feature was of course the volunteer review, which took placß in the Government House grounds. A Royal salute was fired from the Albert Park. Tho races at Devonport passed off successfully, and were only marred by the accident to the jockey Skirving, who fell in the Novel Race, while the coursing meeting at the Plumpton Park ground was also largely patronised by the public. THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW. The review of the Auckland volunteers in honour of the anniversary of Tor Majesty's Birthday was. held in the paddock at the rear of Government House, and passed off with fitting honours, The weather was splendid, being in every respect "Queen's weather," for the display. District orders were issued for the troops to assemble in review order facing '■ >monds-street at eleven o'clock, and by that hour the three battalions, consisting of the Artillery, Engineers, Naval Artillery, and Rifle companies, formed up in their respective positions on the review ground, which was rather circumscribed for the effective movements of the force, there being nearly 800 on parade, and the unevenees of the turf was not conducive to good wheeling and other brigade movements. Colonel Lyon, officer commanding the Auckland district, was the reviewing officer, while Major Shepherd took command of the brigade. From the official parade state we learn that the total number present was 759, including the staff.

When the infantry companies were mustering the "A" Battery of Artillery formed at the Drill-shed, under Captain Payne, and two detachments with two six pounder Armstrongs, marched to the Albert Park to fire the salute at noon. Soon after the fixed hour the whole of the corps were, in review order, formed up in battalions under their respective officers. The parade state was as follows : —Staff : Colonel Lyon, Major Shepherd, and Sergeant Majors Nellev and Campbell. Regimental staff: Captain Commandant Leßoy and Captain Gerrard, adjutant (Naval Artillery); Major Dignan, Major Isaacs, Captain Clifton, adjutant (No. 2 Battalion) ; Major Mahon, Captain Tonks, adjutant (No. 3 Battalion). Royal Lancers : Captain Kemp, Lieutenant Carter: total, 28. "A" Battery : 53, under Captain Payne and Lioutenant Geddes. "0" Battery Artillery: 34, under Captain George and Lieutenant: Wasteneye. Engineers: 41, under Major Anderson and Lieutenants Klines and Beveridge. Auckland Naval Artillery : 62, under Lieutenants Parker and Smith. Devonport : 24, under Captain E'enton and Lieutenant Dscre. Ponsonby Naval Artillery : 36, under Captain Morpeth aud Lieutenant M illar. Coastguards: 35, under Lieutenant Keesing. Onehunga Naval Artillery : 39, under Captain Hulse and Lieutenant James. No. 2 battalion Victoria Rifles : 33, under Captain Skinner and Lieutenants Selfe and Cooper. City Guards : 52, under Lieutenants Dormer and Schemilt. Hobaon Rifles : 45, under Lieutenants Little and Jennings. Onehunga Rifles: 34, under Captain Lundon and Lieutenent Webb. Queen's Own Rifles : 26, under Captain Keep and Lieutenants Collier and Finlayson. No. 3 battalion Newton Rifles : 37. under Captain Birnie and Lieutenants Robertson and Gladding. Royal Veteran Rifles : 36, under Captain Hazard and Lieutenant Fcaton. Ponsonby Rifles : 42, under Captain McDonald and Lieutenants Martolli and Palmer. College Rifles : 40, under Captain Sloman and Lieutenants Houghton and Keesinq ; Gordon Rifles, 30, under Captain White and Lieutenants Leigh and Fairs. The Auckland Garrison Band, Garrison Naval Artillery Band, and Garrison Drum and Fife Band combined during the reviow, and numbered 53 instruments, under Bandmasters Morris, Hunter, and Shanaghan. The members of the honorary staff present were : Dr«. Ivger Erson (Lancers), Evans (Victoria Rifles), R. Erson (Onehunga Artillery), Parkinson (Devonport Artillery), Maomullen ("0" Buttery Artillery), Purchas (Auckland Troop Cavalry), Dawson (Engineers), Evans (City Guard*), Walker (Ponsonby Artillery) ;i.Tenn»nt ("A'' Battery Artillery ; Veterinary Surgeon Halstead (Lancers); hon. chaplains : Very Rev. Monaignor W. AlcPonalj, Rev. W. Tebbs (City Guards), Rev. A. J. Hitchcock (Ponsonby Artillery).

The brigade, on being formed, was taken command of by Major Shepherd. The Auckland Naval Artillery was divided into two companies, as was also the City Guards. The first order was for the battalious to form up in mass of quarter-column facing Symonda-atreet, and then wheel to the left into line of quarter-column. The brigade was then opened to line of column to deploying intervals from No. 1 Battalion, ani was afterwards deployed into line preparatory to executing the feature of the parade by firing the feu. d( jo if,. The line then took open order after waiting some few minutes till noon was at hand, and the "A" Battery had opened tire with their salute from the Albert Park. The first discharge was taken up ol- the first round of the salute booming in the distance. The firing was not as steady as it might have been, and was preceded by a carbine going off at the order being given to present. The second and third discharges were an improvement upon the opening, but they lacked the regularity which should have characterised them. The salute was executed with considerable precision, but it lacked somewhat that soldierly smartness which should be shown. Meantime the combined bands played the National Anthem. Three cheers were called for from the ranks, in honour of Her Majesty the Queen, and were given with great heartiness. The march past then took place in companies, the Garrison Band giving the step to the well known strains of "The British Grenadiers." At the saluting base Colonel Lyon was stationed. There was an enormous concourse of spectator, numbering between four and five thousand. Among the visitors we noticed His Worship tho Mayor (Mr. W. K. Waddel). The brigade w»« then formed into column, and marched off to the Drillshed, via Shortland, Queen, and Wellesley streets, to Wellesley-utreet, where the parade was dismissed by their respective commanders about half-past twelve p.m. A presentation of a drum-major's staff was made to the Garrison Baud by Mr. H. A. Hoffmann, of Messrs. Hoffmann and Sons, prior to the review, and was borne by Drum-Major P. J. O'Brien, who filled a similar post for the late Hobson Band. Tho staff is splendidly mounted in silver, with massive crown and droppings. EXCURSIONS. The Northern Company's s.s. Clansman proceeded to the ever-popular place of resort—the Kawau—yesterday, she being well patronised with passengers. From there the steamer returned again last evening, and safely landed her excursionists, all of whom appeared to have enjoyed the outing thoroughly. Throughout yesterday the harbour was studded with a large fleet of small craft, ranging from the , small dingy to the more aristocratic yacht, each having its merry party of excursionists on board, and to them, the day appeared to pass off most pleasantly, and no accidents have been reported to mar the day's pleasure. |BY telegraph.—prkss association.J Wellington, Monday. The weather was fine for the holiday. A large number of excursionists went into the country by train. The local race meeting at Island Bay was well attended. His Excellency the Governor was present. The races were confined to locally-owned horses. Mr. J. Saunders' The Shah won the Flying Stakes and the Birthday Handicap. Reputation won the Wellington Handicap. Chbistchokch, Monday. The weather for the holiday was beautifully fine. The North Canterbury volunteers were Reviewed by Colonel Lean to-day, and had a field day. There were 450 officers and men on parade. Three football matches with visiting teams were played, with the result that the Chris.church club defeated Wellington by II points to 5, East Christchurch was beaten by the Wellington Athletic Club by two points to nil. The third match, Sydenham v. South Canterbury, was won easily by the home team.