THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 38

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

MILITARY DISPLAY. The military celebration on May 24 was very successful. At 9 o'clock the bugle call warned the Volunteers to assemble, and the various companies turned out with considerable promptitude at the Drillshed, where, after forming up, they wore " told off," and supplied with the necessary blank ammunition preparatory to moving off to take part in the day's sham fight. The scheme of operations was that an enemy had landed at Ohariu Bay that morning, and were advancing on Wellington via Karori. To intercept the enemy a defending force was sent forward by way of Upland Farm, the hUls there dominating both roads leading to the city. The enemy consisted of the two Naval corps, half troop mounted infantry, and two guns (Nordenfeldts), under command of Lieutenant Campbell, whiio the defenders comprised the City Rifles and Guards, a half troop mounted rifles and two guns, under command of Captain Collins, the Permanent force being in reservo under Major Messenger. It was understood that Colonel Newall was to occupy a goneral supervision of attack and defence, in fact, acting as Umpire in Chief, and he was attended by Captains Coleman and Haselden, Lieutenant-Commander Hislop being told off to Captain Collin's staff. The enemy's troops were the first to move off, going by the Tinakori road, and arriving at the junction of the new Cemetery and Tinakori roads at 10 a.m. Lieutonant Campbell at once made a disposition of his force, the forcing of the defenders' right flank being entrusted to the Wellington Navals, under Lieutenant 8011, while the Petone Navals, under Lieutenant Kirk, were told off to engage the defenders on the left, the two guns, under Lieutenant Pearco, being placed in position on the new Cemetery road. In the meantime the dofending force left the Drillshed and moved by way of the Terrace to the scone of operations. On arriving at Upland Farm, Captain Collins sent forward his advanced guard (composed of City Rifles) to form an outpost on a hill overlooking the roads before mentioned, and commanding the entrance to the farm from the direction of Mitchelltown, while a section of the Guards under Lieutenant J. Duthie was told off to form a similar outpost on the loft. The remainder of the City Rifles under Lieutenant W. G. Duthie were Guards, under Lieutenant Duthie, as was likewise his advance on the other side by the force under his brother. The enemy were completely held in check by the defenders, and it was only for the purpose of enabling the defenders to get a shot at them that Captain Collins instructed his men to allow them to advance. With this desire in view, the defenders retired, and the enemy, finding their way no longer barred, advanced to the next ridge, exposing themselves very much —so much that in real warfare they would have suffered considerably. The defenders' skirmishers having retreated to a somewhat secure position in extended order, poured in a heavy and obstructive fire, checking most effectually the further advance of the enemy. Lieutenant Campbell attempted more than once to turn the defenders' flank, but every movement in that direction was nipped by the defenders. Cover abounded in profusion, crawling and creeping, doubling backwards and forwards along the gullies was tried without effect, and, after several ineffectual attempts by this means, the enemy had to give it up as a bad job, and, admitting themselves worsted, made arrangements for their retreat, when "cease fire" sounded. Just before that time, however, some amusement was provided for the spectators in the immediate vicinity of Upland Farm by a body of Navals, who advanced on the left flank of the defenders, shot down the devoted garrison in good style, and took several riflemen prisoners, after having "potted" at them for some time over a fence. Hostilities having ceased, the companies were formed up, and, headed by the Garrison Band, proceeded to the reclaimed land, near the Opera House, where the feu dejoie was fired, and the royal salute, accompanied with the usual cheers for Her Majesty, brought the military celebration of the day to a close. The official parade state of the forces was as follows -.—Staff—Colonel Newall, Captain Coleman, Captain Haselden, LieutenantCommander Hislop and Sergeant-Major Finn. Permanent Force—Permanent Artillery, 46, under Major Messenger; Torpedo Force, 15, under Captain Falconer. Wellington Navals, 40, under Lieutenants Campbell, Bell and Hume; Petone Navals, 34, under Lieutenant Kirk; D Battery Artillery (4 guns), 43, under Captain Moorhouse and Lieutenant Pearce; Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, 12, under Lieutenants Pringle and Hyde; Wellington City Rifles, 42, under Captain Collins and Lieutenant W. G. Duthie; Wellington Guards, 50, under Captain Paterson and Lieutenant J. Duthie; Wellington Garrison Band, 13, under Bandmaster Herd.