SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14165, 16 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.

£23,000 RAISED TO DATE.

SILVER BULLET CANNONADE.

WON BY THE FUSILIERS

CLOSING CEREMONIES MARRED

(From '-The Colonist," August 1.) After a week of perfect weather heavy rain sot m early yesterday morning, and continued throughout the torenoon, necessitating the abandonment •■£\, ont d°or functions in connection with the closing of the Silver Bullet Cannonade. Naturally there was great disappointment at the ucpropitiowsnoss or tho weather, many people having travelled long distances from all parts oi the district to be present at the closing ceremonies. There was no alteniative for the Executive Committee of the Silver Relict Cannonade but to declare the arrangements for the celebration at Trafalgar Park off; 'and th» investiture of the Princess of. the victenous army took place place in the I afternoon; in the Theatre Koyal, whe.o there Was ample stage accommodation. jAt the hour fixed for the ceremony tho weather cleared somewhat, and fit its conclusion the procession, which had been postponed from the morning, took place. A large number of persons were unable to gain admission to the theatre when the first ceremony took place, and on that account it was repeated after the procession, when there was again ia crowded audiei-ce.

CEREMONY OF INVESTITURE. When the curtain rose at the Theatre Jt-oyal m the afternoon, a very pretty I stage picture was disclosed. On a dais was the vacant place for the then unknown Princess of the victorious arm? in the battle for Hill £25.000, and alongside were the Princesses of the two leading armies as they appeared in baturday's list, with their maids of honour, and in a semicircle in front were the Princesses of the other armies and their maids of-honour, in their order. Each Princess way supported by the Colonel of the army she represented, and there were also'present the vajnous officials connected with the ceremony.

The proceedings opened with tho National Anthem.' played by the 12th Ro,giment Band, after winch the Nelson i Concert. Orchestra, Tinder the direction of Signor J. Vitetta, rendered the National Anthems of tie Allies, concluding with the British National Anthem, in which the 12th Regiment Band joined. There was a splendid volume of sounj, and the effect was.niost.inspiring. THE RESULT ANNOUNCED. After a trumpet oall, there was an expectant hush as the Secret Service Officer (Mr J. Fitz-Gerald) stepped forward to (announce the result of the battle. As the name of each army was called, the audience loudly applauded. The results as-announced'were, as follows :— Fusiliers (Princess, Miss G. Clark; Lieutenant-Colonel C. Milner) ... 1 Grenadiers (Princess, Mrs Robison; Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Harris) 2 Sharpshooters Miss Goodwin; Lieutenant-Colonel H. I Manoy) 3: Rangers (Princess, Miss Best; Lieu-tenant-Colonel L. Bradstock) ... 4 Royal Marines (Princess, Miss Walker; Lieutenant-Colonel D. Hooker) '.. .. 5 Lancers (Princess, Miss Page; Lieu-tenant-Colonel J. B. Sadd) ... 6 Flying Squadron (Princess, Mrs W. Bc\vnie; Lieutenant-Colonel W. Downie) ... .«. 7 Bombardiers (Princess, Miss G. I-. Treacher: Lieutenant-Colonel E. I _S. Cresswell) ... ... 8 j Knobby Gordons (Princess, Miss N. Win; Lieutenant-Colonel G. Maemahon) ... ... 9 Guards (Princess, Miss Fairey ; Lieutenant-Colonel H. Low) "... 10

The Fusiliers' Princess was attended by little Joan Pharazyn, daughter of Mr C. B. Pharazyn, whose handsome donation" of £3000 was mainly responsible for the victory of the' Fusiliers' i crmy. " j Mr Fitz-Gera-Id remarked that the contest was an exceedingly close one I between most of the armies. A matter of £1200, he stated, decided whether' the Guards should be in second plao [or tenth place;. £150 separated the I Grenadiers from the Shai-pshoote-rs, and ■ there wias £500 difference between the Rangers and the Grenadiers; £22 10s separated the Royal Marines from thai Lancers, and there was £40 between] i the Flying Squadron and the Bomlbar-1 [diers. He also added that an extra, I £700 would have put the Guards in fourth place. (The exact amounts paid in to the fund by the respective armies will not be available for a day or two.V

The Princess of the successful army (Miss G. Clark). was then placed in Britannia's chair by the Mistress of the It-oDes (Mrs G. A.' Crawford^ to the strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," played by the 12th Regiment Band.

'sums paid in by the armies. The following is an approximate statement of the amounts paid in by the various armies dnring the Pannoniade: — ' i Fusiliers, £7438, Miss Marsden's car ? i and Mrs Edwards's Tahunantii , section. Grenadiers, £3151. Shiaa-pshooters, £2526. Lancers, £2245. Rangers, £2058. Bombardiers, £1314. Royal Marines, £1148. Guards, £1017. i Flying Squadron, £810 (Walker's I section). Knobby Gordons, £783.

DECLARATION OF SOVEREIGNTY. Mr A. Gould, the Commander-in-Chief, then made the following declaration of sovereignty: —Citizens of Nelson Hark Ye! ~Ye people of the Counfcies of Waimea, Takaka, Collingwood and Murchison—All Hail! Know Ye! That by the right valiant efforts of the soldiery,' and the. brilliant generalship of their trusty commanders^ victory in fclie Silver Bullet Cannonade hath fallen to the army of the Fusiliers.

i Ten powerful and loyal armies have ■ striven for victory, but by virtue of ' the triumph of her army the Princess lof die Fusiliers is exalted to the high . ond noble rank of Britannia, the Sove- ; reign Queen of all the armies, upon i whom do wait' in loyal homage all : those noble princesses who vied with j her, and each other, for the honours j bestowed on our beloved Britannia, be- ' fore whom all her grateful . subjects j bow and .proclaim her—Britannia, j Hail Britannia! We appear humbly j before thee and make our loyal obeisj ance! May it please your Gracious Majesty, your loyal subjects have decreed that you s^ll reign over us, and I as your j »■">.'■>«!tI'humble servant, representing your I f uthful liey and loyal subjects, do j jl-.'ce upon your Hoyal head this helmet iv.-.d into your gracious hands this sceptre as the outward and visible signs of your Sovereignty. A!ay yrr'r reign be as glorious as the triumph oi' your army in battle. H will rcioice your Majesty to know that your victory hath been the means .■rf assisting mightily towards the raising of a fund of £25,000 for the relief of our sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents. ,

Your Majesty hath already won the love and admiration of all the people within your borders, by submitting yourself to the ordeal of publicity in a just and noble cause. The other Princesses, also whose.armies competed with your Majesty's army in friendly rivalry have shown a worthy example of selfsacrifice such as will for ever redound "to their credit and honour, and your Majesty has been pleased to honour thorn in that they wait on your gracious person.

- We, your loyal subjects, join with you in prayer to the God of Battles, that He may speedily grant to our galflant defenders a glorious victory to tho end that tho great Empire to which we oolong may e.njoy -that peace which vindicated justice and honour alono can give. Britannia, all HaiH We greet thee, Britannia. Britannia, having been invested with the helmet and trident, the 12th Resident Band played ''Rule Britannia,", am a. fanfare of trumpets followed. she Minister of War (Mr H. Everett) j then presented the colours to Britan-I ma m a stirring speech, remarking that the flag had braved tho battle and"! the breeze for 1000 years, ;;ik! he hoped it would fly in honour for another thousand-years. Each of the Princesses was then presented to Bri.tar.nia by the Mistress of tho Holies., during whicli the Ooroiation March was played by' tho Nekon Concert Orel estra: