THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8887, 25 May 1892, Page 5

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

The unsettled state of the weather prevented the Queen's Birthday from being celebrated yesterday with the usual enthusiasm of former years, by fetes and festivities. For once "Queen's weather" was only conspicuous by its absence. Morning broke cold and showery, and there- was a shower of hail. Despite these unfavourable circumstances, the sham fight and the Takapuna Races were held. The water excursions ere confined to points within the harbour, a goodly number going to the WortU Shore, and a fair number to St. Heliers Bay, attracted by the prospect of seeing the military spectacle. The city 'was remarkably quiet, and, »vith the exception of the bunting on the Municipal Buildings, at the Albert Park flagstaff, and on the shipping, there were few outward and visible signs of rejoicing.

THE SHAMFIGHT. The scene of action fixed for the shatnfight was on the peninsula of whch the Bastion Rock is the projecting point, and a more inaccessible place could not have been chosen for a military display, so as to prevent any interference on the part of the general public however much the latter might wish to enjoy even from a distance a view of the manoeuvres of the brave defenders towards whose maintenance they contribute so largely. However, the weather yesterday morning was so bad that even enthusiastic volunteers were hardly expected to turn out. Still after seven o'clock there was a heavy sleet and hail ehciwer, and many, no doubt, just then waited anxiously for the booming of two puns from Mount Victoria to proclaim that there would be no muster ; but the guns did not boom, and the volunteers had to be true to their training and show that if they did not fear fire they did not fear water. The companies mustered at tho wharf and embarked on the ferry steamer Eagle at about half-past eight amidst a pelting storm of sleet. There was a fair muster of about 120, including 20 men of the South Franklin Mounted Infantry, who arrived, under charge of Major Harris, to take part in the display. Great credit is duo to this, tho only country corps who put in an appearand-. A number of 120 boys of the higher -orms in tho public schools were under tl.a command of the instructors of the Permanent Infantry force. The Eagle called alongside the warship Ringarootna and tool- on board a detacchinent of GO men

under the command of Lieutenant Stanfield, who took command of tho attacking party. The steamer then proceeded to the liastion, and without boats the troops wore landed at a little jetty, a single plank wide. When all were landed ammunition was served out, and the defending party under tho command of Major Skinner were sent off to take up position. The defending party consisted of the South Franklin Mounted Infantry, the Victorias, and the Newton Rifles. The City Guards wero only represented by Lieutenant Montgomery and a few men, the " A" Battery was entirely absent as a corps, but Lieutenant O'Brien and one or two of his men acted as signallers._ It is needless to say that under the circumstances tho defence line was a skeleton one. there being a lino of nearly a mile and a,-half to cover, but Major Skinner made the best arrangement possible under the circumstances, as ho was in entire ignorance of where tho point of attack might be or where he was to concent rate his forces to meet it. He placed the Vic to tins in the right front and the Mounted Infantry in the left, with the Newtons as a support, and the school boys were divided into four companies and took lip position in the rear as a reserve. Half-an hour was allowed

from the time of the defenders leaving the beach before the gun fired permitting the attacking party to advance. Shortly after the tiring of the signal gun a detachment of 'JO boys from the training school arrived and were placed in frontof tho reserves as a sup port. Captain Robertson (Newton Kili-is) was in cominan I of the lighting line of the defenders, and Major Skinner as officer in command was ably assisted by Lieutenant Jackson Palmer, and occasionally by Lieutenant O'Brien, as gallopers. SurgeonMajor Dawson, Surgeon Walker, and the ambulance corps were in attendance, but although the worthy surgeon-major begged hard for a "casualty," Major Skinner hud no men to spare, and the services of the ambulance corps were not important. The attacking party consisted of the detachment of GO men from H.M.S. Ringarooma, under tho command of Lieutenant Stantield, an 1 the Auckland and Ponsonby Navals, under Lieut -Commanders Parker and Miller. Lieut. Stantield was of course in command, and sent a detachment of 20 men from his own command to the left flank by the Kohimarama School, while the Auckland and Ponsonby Navals advanced up by two gullies in front, Lieutenant Stantield with the remaining 40 men from the Ringarooma, mounting the cliff on the right, advancing on the right flank. The centre of the attacking force was the first to reach the defending force, and the South Franklin's opened fire on them, the invaders briskly replying. The right, under Lieutenant Stantield, then went up, and the action was continued along the front and right a very effective fire being kept up from both sides. The South Franklin's were reinforced by the Kohimarama boys, and the Ponsonby'a by the Auckland Navals on the left front, and there they commenced their action against the Newton Rifles. The left flank of the attacking party was tho last to come into action, and they added increased weight to their side. The attack was continued along tho lino, the defending force gradually retiring, and then occurred one of those breaches of rules which constantly recurat shamfights. Oneof the conditions of the light was that on no account were bayonets to be fixed. It up pears that in the Royal Navy the rule is when out of ammunition fix bayonet and charge. This the Ringarooma men on the right did, charging under fixed bayonets into the defending lines, and the two forces became intermingled in confusion for some time. Cease firing was sounded, and the centre ceased, but the flanks continued firing until Lieut. Palmer galloped amongst; them, handkerchief in hand, and stopped them. Thi3 was the termination of the fight, and the umpires would have little trouble in coming to a decision had it not been for the contnlemp* of the charge with fixed bayonets. Considering the inauspicious weather, the slippery nature of the ground, and tho other drawbacks the volunteer corps did fairly well, especially in skirmishing, while one of the features of the Ringarooma men was their beautiful precision in volley firing, although it is a system of shooting very rarely adapted to skirmishing. After the action Colonel Goring took command, and the line formed on the high land, about GOO yards in rear of the fort. Here the feu de joic was fired, the time being taken from tho big guns at Fort Cautley. Before the parade marched down to the steamer they witnessed the explosion of a submarine mine off the Bastion. It was firod by Mrs. Colonel Coring, under the direction of Captain Powell, and it threw a cascade of water to a height of nearly 200 feet. The troops then embarked and returned up the harbour, calling at H.M.s. Ringarooma to place the ship's detachment. On reaching the wharf the men were formed by Major Skinner and dismissed to their private parades. We may add that Colonel Goring officiated as inspecting officer and chief umpire, tho other umpires being Lieutenant Colonel Dignan and Major Harris. Major Morris, to whom an important post was assigned, was unfortunately absent through illness. He has been under medical care and confined to his bed for the last fortnight, and although now able to be up again, he is much prostrated from a severe attack of influenza, and is therefore incapacitated from military duty, or from such exposure as he would have been subjected to had i he attended the sham fight yesterday. Amongst other well-known personages present was the Very Rev. Monsignor i McDonald. The Victoria Company was taken to the United Service Hotel for the Company's annual dinner, and Lieutenant Jackson Palmer, of the Engineers, was a guest of Captain Somers and the Company. The spread laid for them was in host Martin's usual style, and officers and men expressed the fullest satisfaction. The Auckland Navals had their annual dinner at the Waitemata Hotel, where they were hospitably served by host Endea'.i, and the other companies enjoyed their well-earned dinners at several restaurants and hotels.

THE HOLIDAY IN THE SOUTH. . I [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION^ I Wellington, Tuesday. In spite of the bitterly cold weather a I large number of volunteers turned up about half-past nine this morning to take part in I a couple of hours' sham fight at Island Bay. ' The attacking party was under Lieutenant ! Commander Duncan, and consisted of the Wallington and Petone Navals, the City Rifles, and Guards, and were concentrated on Island Bay Road. The defending forces, under the command of Major Messenger, were situated nearer the town, and included the Permanent Artillery, Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, " D " Battery, and Wellington Rifles. The attacking party had the best of the fight, making prisoners of some three or four Permanent Artillerymen, and capturing one of the batteries of guns. The fight over, the troops marched to Newtown Park, where they were reviewed by the new commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel Fox, Sir James I'rendergast (ActingGovernor) and suite, the Hon. Mr. Seddon also being present. In addressing the men, Colonel Fox said :As rule, the movements of the attacking party were well executed. On two or three occasions during the fight he had come into contact with many of the officers, and he Was glad to see the mistakes he had pointed out to them had been immediately rectified. As to the defenders, he said their display had been somewhat spoiled by the action of the Mounted Rifles, who did not take up their position soon enough. Chkistcuitrcit, Tuesday. The day was very fine for the holiday. The volunteers mustered 435 strong, and had a sham fight on the Port Hills, a force under Major Richards attacking Lyttelton from Sumner. Owins r to the train being late part of the defending force did not arrive in time, and fch® attack was pronounced successful. In the afternoon the foundation stone of the new Salvation Army headquarters in Lichfield-street, to cost, including land, £3000, was laid by Colonel Bailey. Ddnedin, Tuesday. To-day was observed as a general holiday. The only attractions were the races and volunteer review, both of which were well attended. The weather was beautiful all day, though the wind was cold. At seven o'clock, however, rain commenced to fall.