THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4170, 20 June 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

A bright sun and invigorating breeze combined to make yesterday as five a day as could be wished for, and, tempted by the brightness, everyone apparently kept holiday. By .the first train from the country- the country Volunteers arrived in town, and though a considerable number of townspeople made their way to the country the attractions of the;day,were all in town. The day was yet 'young. when the Volunteers assembled* and«with the band playing they marched to the Gardens, where the Artillery fired a Boyal salute, and the infantry a feu de foie/ whereupon the Battalion Band performed the National Anthem, and the Volunteers cheered lustily in honor of her most graoious Majesty and her sixty-sixth birthday. The Battalion, which was reviewed by Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, consisted of 2SG meu, the force being composed as follows: —Staff, 3; Bani, 19: Navals, 50; H Battery, 59; City Rifles, 55 ; Stoke Bines, 32 ; Waimea Eifles, 33; and. College Cadets','3s. After the Battalion.had been put through a number of movements, the companies marched past, and •we may mention that whilst each company received the approbation of the large number of citizens present, the College Cadets, as usual, received a big share. Subsequent to the review dispositions were made for the , Sham Fight. The Naval Artillery were despatched towards the Port,-when they took up a position on the Port Hills, aB though they had effected a landings at the Port. In a short time they were to be seen advancing down the hills at the rear, of the Haven Boad School, but in the-meantime the H Battery had taken up positions, ■■ and had placed two. guns near Messrs Twist and Gay's stables, and a third at the niouth of Toi Toi Valley. The defenders then pushed forward a detachment composed of the College Cadets, who sought cover behind the Eailway Station to cover the advance of the > infantry. As soon as the invaders discovered that their further progress was barred, they opened fire, and then the Armstrong guns were brought into play, and served rapidly. Under cover of the guns the right flank of the defenders, consisting of the Stoke and Waimea. cprps> pushed along the Haven Eoad, whilst_ the City Eifles pressed forward beyond the Cadets, and commenced the' ascent of the hills. The invaders .;were then, gradually beaten back','wTien the flank movement executed by the country Volunteers compelled a complete and hasty retreat on their part, but later they • made several determined, but ineffectual attempts to force back the defer dera, or at all events to hold their ground. As the defenders gradually drove their foe back to the -Haven road or Wakefield Quay the inierest increased, and the guns were sent forward.ord again opened fire, the result being tliau.in. a,brief space of time victory was complete, and. though the. ambulance carriage was brought into requisition occasionally the grin upon-the countenance of each one who occupied it was scarcely one of pain. The only damage done was a broken window or two near where the guns were fired, and the very large number of people who witnessed the manceuvering -the whole town seemed to be abroad—appeared well pleased with the morning's performances. The Battalion Band, which mustered in force under Bandmaster Oakey, came in for a great deal of praise, and their admirable performances certainly entitled them to every compliment expressed in their honor. THE CHILDREN'S TBEAT. With our old friend " Ben Crisp ' the Queen's Birthday is always a busy day, and yesterday his genial, timeworn, and honored face was as beaming as usual whilst he was full of business in attending to the comfort and looking after the safety of the hundreds of little ones who responded to his invitation to take part in the children's treat—responded as probably many of their parents had done in years gone by. The little ones, after assembling at the Temperance Hall, proceeded through the principal streets in procession, the smallest of the youngsters crowding a big lorry, and their tiny cheers and happy faces were certainly amongst the pleasantest of the day's experiences. After the procession the children were taken to Mr T. Harley:s paddock in .Collingwood street, where they enjoyed a great variety of 'games, and which were witnessed by considerable numbers of the townspeople. In the afternoon the Battalion Band very considerately went over to the paddock, and there they played a number of selections to the enjoyment of young and old. The Magic Lantern was exhibited in the evening to a large and appreciative audience. The Football Match. Although, the heavy rain of the preceding day 3 had'made the Botanical Gardens very Bloppy, the sunshine and breeze had to a very great extent dried the ground by the time the match between the Wellington Poneke Club and the Nelson Prince Albert Club was announced to commence. Possibly the victory gained by the Poneke men on Saturday added to the interest of yesterday's match, but at all events it is a long time since so much general nterest has been taken in a f ootballmatch in Nelson as was the case yesterday. The attendance oh the ground was very large indeed, and one of the consequences was that at times the people, who pressed forward to witness the game, seriously obstructed the play. Inthe first bout'neither side actually scored according to the rules, but, though in other respects the contending teams were very evenly matched, the Wellington men played better together, and in the art of quickly passingtheball they not merely had a great advantage, but they could scarcely have been excelled. In the second bout, the Wellington men not only secured two tries, but converted them into goals, so that they won the game by two goals to nothing. Several of the players on either side deserve credit for their smartness and good form, but as it was - difficult to distinguish the players, we refrain from mentioning1 names.'- We understand that the members of the Poneke Club are yell pleased with their visit to Nelson and the reception they have received, and we hope the Nelson men will do their utmost to turn the tablea when they visit Wellington next year. The Costume Ball. The ball given by the Prince Albert Football Club in honor of the members of the Poneke Club, which took place at the Provincial Hall last evening, was largely attended, and was evidently enjoyed by those present. The musio was good, and dancing was kept up;;with spirit till a late hour.—' Colonist,' May 26.