QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 642, 24 May 1878, Page 2

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS.

To-day being t'ie 59th anniversary of Llie birth of her Majesty Queen 'Victoria, it has boon pretty generally observed as a public holiday. Nearly the whole of the bnsinuss places in town wore closed, and various means of passing the day wore adopted. Many persons availed themselves of the opportunities.afforded by the railways of paying visits to the different portions (if the country, while others i:i- l dulled in excursions out of town in pans and buggies. The principal fuatur-e of the. day's proceedings was the VOLUNTi.EIt PAI!Ai:>H. J Tiie various companies " fell in " at. the | Volunteer Hall at 11 o'clock, the following being the parade state :—Artillorv : 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, aiid 12 gunners. No. 1 Company : 1 captain. 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 20 rank and file. Hampden Company: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, ?, sergeants, 11 rank and file. Otepopo Company: 1 captain, ?> sergeants. 10 rank and. file, Citizen Cadets :~1 capl tain, 4 serguaius, 20 rank and iiie. Grammar Scliooi Cadets : 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 20 rank and file.. The whole were under the command of Major Steward, ytati Sergeant-Major Mncphorson being also in attendance.' After going tiirough some- preliminary movements in the Drill-shed, the battalion wag inarched j on to the old cricket ground, whore, they were exercised iij marching past and other battalion movements, which were gone through in a passable maimer, the Cadets being most conspicuous as nearest approaching perfection. After this portion of the business had been gone through the battalion was marched along Thamesstreet, and on to the Esplanade, near the Gasworks, where the usual royal salute of twenty-one guns was fired by the Artillery and the customary feu-de-joie by the Rifle Corps, at the conclusion of which three cheers were given for the Queen. Some skirmishing and volley firing exercises having been gone through, the battalion was marohed back to the cricket ground, where a hollow square was formed, and the PRESENTATION OF PRIZES took place. Mrs. De Lautour presented: the prizes won at the late annual contest; of the North Ofcago Rifle Association, ex- j pressing the pleasure she felt at perform- { ing the duty, and a hope that these rifle I

contests would be continued and the prizes increased in value. Three cheers were wiven for Mrs De Lantour on the call of Major Steward. Mrs. Steward then, with a few ■ well-chosen remarks, presented the Government district prizes to the fortunate , winners. Three cheers, called for by j . Captain Sunipter, were given for Mrs ; Steward, and tho parade was shortlv afterwards dismissed, Major Steward havin-r I , previously announced that the next bat" I tahoii parade would take place at Maheiio where he hoped to see a larger muster. ' | PJOEOX MATCH. '■ A pigeon mate!! took place to-day at Boundary Creek, and was very well attended. Tho result had not reached us ! when wo went to press. ! J. he. first soiree in connect ion with the I i Vluimve Methodise Church will be. held I this evening in the 'Wear-street Hall, tea bom.; on the (able at six o'clock. A public ! nuking will afterwards be held, a which [■addressi* will be delivered by a. } &v „ e I number of'gentlemen. ri7iu.lL- BAXjt, A public ball is a,nm.-u.ii£v.d to take place this _ evening iu the. Volunteer Hall, 1 dancing U-. commence at eight o'clock. ' I