INSPECTION BY COLONEL HAWKINS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13049, 8 March 1911, Page 6 (Supplement)

INSPECTION BY COLONEL HAWKINS.

A RECORD PARADE

(From "Tho Colonist," Feb. 16.)

' The Territorials of the Nelson district paraded in record "numbers las.t night for inspection by Colonel Hawkins, V.D., officer connmanding the Canterbury—Nelson military distn :t. Several officers and men of tho \Va!;atu Mounted Rifles journeyed from Tapawera to be present and the total number of all ranks on parade, exclusive of Boy Scouts was 399. In addition the Boy Scouts had a muster of 47. The inspection took place at thci Drill Shed, and the forces afterwards marched through the city, headed In the Garrison H:uid.

On returning to the Drill Shed G lonel Hawkins addressed the paivc.e, statins that several decorations i\ere to be presented. He remarked that through the gracious act of her lalo MajciSty Quern Victoria officers and non-commissioned officers in New 7.ri land hid been enabled to qualify foi these distinctions, and many had <lr.no so, several awards having been n ado in Nelson. Ho was glad to be able, t.j say that the first Nelson officer to i''ii,i say that the first Nelson officer to wrn the Volunteer Decoration was tlio Hte Colonel Pitt, one of the best friends'the volunteer n'ovonient over had. Among ilie officers to whom it hud been presented wore M'ljor Coleninn, Lieutenant l.Y,ionels Pearlcss and Harkness, pit] Captain Stiles, who was to receive a decoration that night. These offi--o-'s liacl sce.u ninny yrvjrs of good scri'1".!, but the country still had need of ih- ir. assistance and sympathy in .the nnv scliein:i. The dniin-ii'n.ior was also io rrcciv.' 'i inrd'il, and he was glad to Jiotire the interest taken in the (loco■•■!----tioii iiv non-('or,iiuissio.npd o!n'"."s. Colowi Hawkins K:iid lie wculd ask his <:ld frii'i-.d and rolle'igu:,, CVlonel WeV. ; t;> i;r'"~"lit the Hied ils.

C.)li:-:::'l Wolib r:iid Colonel HawVns had paid a great compliment to him in asking him t;> present the ir.edals, and his long connection with the Nebo'i district increasr.-.! the pleasure he felt in doing so. Colon-1 Web!) then prevented tho Colonial Auxiliary Forces' long service decoration to Ci>ptiins J<. W. Stiles (adjutant), O. H. Hammond (Stoke PvifM, and K. Arnold, and the Now Zealand long service medal to DrumMajor Guv, of the Garrison Hand. Colonel rfawkins afterwards expressed his pleasure and surprise at the largeness of the parade, mid the presence of the Cadets and Scouts. He felt it to l;e a oe:ns-ider'.bli.< lionnur to himself that there should be such ." large attendance i'.t his fir:;t inspection. Colonel 11-.iwkin;, especially commended tin diseinlmr, md soldierly appearance of tlu* H. Buttery. I he- parade was then dismissed. The officers Kl'U-rw.irds assembled, and were iutroduc-...! to Colonel Hawkins. He tc/ik occasion to make a fetv remarks on the system now on the e,wof !ici.ug put into effect, pointing ot.t that the Territorials would have grcitw facilities for training, companies would have increased numbers, and generally they would be put on a nr.uh better foot in if than at present. Capitation would in tinn cease, and tlutroops would be uniformed by headquarters, but provision would be mac V.l for a certain allowance to form a anagement fund to cover oxpenr.es win -U a corps always found itself fac:< to fur* with. It would be ncc-.-ssnry from lioncnwnnls to addn.~?. all correspond'lieto headqimtc rs, Cliristchuroh, a'v! all enquiries would be- piomptlv attended to, and he did mil believe tV Nelson iiortion of the district wi.-ull suffer in respect to distance, as fa'.Hti'.i for communication were so favcural)le. He cxpresr.ed his pleas ire at linking the acquaintance of so- many officers on his initial visit and tin ikt 1 th'>m for their attendance.

The parad? static b.st night were as follows:— District Staff -I ; H. Battery, 2 officers and -l(i r.ink and tile.

First IJ-ittalioii iWl.son Infantry: Staff (i; Stoke liilli's. 3 officors and 12 rank and tile: Wainua Hitles, 15 inucers and W rank and file; Nels-m Rill'-s, 2 officers and 38 rank and li1 ••: .Field Ambulance, ,'il ; (.'arriyoii JJa.nd, 1 officer and 2") l!:ind.«nien. Cadet H-.ttalion : Stnfl' 2 : No 1 C on.pfiliy. .3 ofneers and ■")!) rank and hie; No 2 Comp'iiiy, 3 officers and -13 rank and lil:'; Xn 'i Company, I officer and 47 rank and !i!<\

Unattached officers, 8. Total, 399. Boy Scouts: Wnk'itn and Kainlu treops, 3 officers and -11 fcouts. (mmd total on'p-irade, -IKS. Mr A. Duff, who has b.-c.n for several yems asi-'ociiited with the district as staff clerk, is t<i be imm-dhtely transi'erred to Christcliureli, and will leave on Saturd'iy next for the hcadquarfc-is of tlie district. Colonel Hawkins will •ig-.im visit >'fb:ui shortly, priibably during the training camp of H. Battery towards the end of the |>res"iit li'onth, when it is quite jirobable the Commandant, General Gudle.v. will be present.