CEREMONIAL PARADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13091, 3 June 1913, Page 3

CEREMONIAL PARADE.

Splendid weather prevailed to-day — the 48th anniversary of the birthday of King George V. A public holiday was observed in town, the business premises being closed and the day given over to holiday-making. Bunting was shown from many of the buildings in town. The feature of the day's proceedings was a ceremonial parade of local territorials and the time-honored function of saluting the flag, in the presence of the "City Fathers." The. locality of the Garrison Hall was a scene of activity at 9 o'clock, when the various territorial companies paraded under the command of their respective officers in the big drill hall. Major A. G. Beere, local senior officer, was in command of the parade generally, and the turn-out was on the whole satisfactory. Shortly after 9.30 the troops formed up in column in front of the Garrison Hall, where -the Mayor and members of the Borough Council wei*e waiting in carriages. On tlie word of command the column moved off in the following order : — Major A. G. Beere, local senior officer. "A" Squadron (mounted), Captain C. J. Hamilton in command. * Mavoral carriage, containing his Worship the Mayor and the Mayoress (Mr and Mrs J. it. Kirk), Cr. Hepburn and the Town Clerk (Mr R. D. B. Robinson.) A second carriage contained Crs. H. E. Hill, H. Bright, G. Wildish and A. Wade.

Retired officers and veterans. "D" Company (Lieut. R. Mitchell.) "F" Company (Lieut. F. Cumming.) No. 7 Company Cadets (Lieut. E. E. Somervell.) No. 19 Companv Cadets (High School — Captain Gatland7) No. 65 Company Cadets (Lieut. J. H. Kane.) No. 66 Waerenga-a-hika Cadets (Lieut. Bvitierfield.) The column proceeded to the Post Office, via Read's Quay, and then turned into Gladstone road. Here Ihey were met by the ' City Band (under Bandmaster Lawrence), and rtiarched up Gladstone road to the parade grounds in Tucker's paddock, at Carnarvon street, opposite the municipal power house. Proceeding along Gladstone road the City Band, which made its first appearance on military parade since its recent re-establishment, contributed lively airs. •'• Tlie proceedings were watched with much interest by a large number of townpeople, who* followed the procession along to the parade grounds. Here the scout cadets, under Chief Scoutmaster Lieut. Toomath, were drawn up at the entrance gate, and when the territorials had all filed in the scouts took up their duty along the line of enclosure to prevent encroachment on the part of the public." The latter provision, was a good one, and prevented the invasion of the parade grounds which has occurred on previous, occasions. ' The conibined military forces were , drawn up in parade order, and after the various evolutions had been, performed the troops marched past in review order, saluting the flag, near which the Mayor's carriages were drawn up. The evolutions on the whole were fairly satisfactory, the marching of "D" Company, -the senior infantry corps, which gained credit for themselves at the recent Territorial camp, being worthy of ' special mention. Senior-Sergt. Hutton •was- present with a staff of police, but their duties were fortunately of a very light nature. As the royal salute was given the City Band struck /up the notes of the national anthem, and! Major Beere called for three cheers for the King, which -were duly responded to. The military were then drawn up into square formation, when the Mayor, Mr J. R. Kirk, delivered a few appropriate' remarks. They were assembled, he said, to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of King, George the Fifth, the King on whose mighty Empire the sun never sets. It was a remarkable thing that at that time most of them could remember similar functions in connection with two past sovereigns ; he referred Jty Victoria the, .Good, in respect of whose memory Empire" Day was now! held, and her son, 1 Edward the Peace-] maker. They were now celebrating the birthday of King George, in whom was! the virtue .of each, and who, with the assistance of Queen Mary, was maintaining the Court as >it snould be. After touching on the love for Empire, which he said had been the great glory of the country's might, his Worship went oh to express his pleasure to see such a fine- display of troops. They had before them ' those who had borne the burden of warfare and veterans of both **aces. The latter was a symbol of peace and a wider symbol oi Empire. All honor to the veterans with their medals, all honor to those who in the past had borne the heat and burden of military duties in days gone by. Our local Territorial officers were deserving well of the people. This military business was something more than a game; "it was a great work that was being done for the people and for posterity. To be prepared for war was the greatest safeguard for peace. He congratulated the cheers and men oil the evolutions carried out, which were deserving of the greatest credit, especially "D" Company, which had gained such a good name for itself at the camp, .and the boys' cadets who were now looking forward with enthusiasm to 1 , the time when they would wear another uniform. He also commended the City Band for the self-sacri-fice of its members. He did not propo.v. ; > say much more, but he expressed wliat he thought .must be the sentiment of all, that King George the Fifth would be spared to reign long over His mighty realms. How pleasing it had been to see on his recent visits to Germany the cordial welcome that had been extended to his Majesty by the Kaiser and his people. The hostile attitude between England and Germany had gone, and the only cloud on the horizon waa, from the East. A comparison of the reception accorded to the Czar was, he said, tangible proof of King George's popularity and esteem in the minds of the . people of the world. "May his reign bo as good as that of his illustrious grandmother -and his famous father," said the speaker. In concluding he called for three cheers for King George^ and Queen Mary, which, were duly given. Subsequently Major Beere, dismounting, shook hands with the various veterans on parade, and the Mayor and Mayoress, accompanied, by Major Beere, made an inspection of the lines. The troops then reformed into column, and to the music of the City Band marched back, to the Garrison Hall, where, before dismissal, they were commended by Major Beere on the day's turn-out. The parade state was as follows : —

A Squadron, Qth (Wellington, E.C.) Mounted Rifles: Capt. Hamilton, Liauta. Coleman and McLernon and 32 men.

D Company, 9th (Wellington, E.C.) Rifles: Lieut. Mitchell and 87 men.

F Company, Qth (Wellington, E C.) Rifles : Lieut. Cumming and 33 men.

No. 7 Company, Wellington Senior Cadets : Lieuts. Somervell and Muir and 64 men.

No. 19 Company, Wellington Senior Cadets : Capt. Gatiand and 51 men.

No. 65 Company, Wellington Senior Cadets: Lieut. Kane and 73 men.

No. 66 Company : Lieut. Buttorfield and 21 men.

Scout Cadets: Senr. -Scoutmaster Lieut. Toomath, Lieuts. Baker and Kennedy, and 68 scouts.