BATTALION PARADE OF CADETS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5681, 16 June 1908, Page 4

BATTALION PARADE OF CADETS.

A battalion parade oi the South Canterbury school cadets took place in Timaru on Saturday, when there ■was a good muster. Shortly, after 1 o’clock, in the Main School grounds, the cadets mustered as follows : Main school! (No. 1 Companu, under Captain Collins ; Main school* Ko. 2, 63 under Captain Fleming ; Waim-a- . taitai, 38, Captain Merry j Waimate, 51, Captain Lieutenants Laingi and Pour acre; Pleasant Point, 24, and Fair lie 12, Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Irwin ; South 38; Geraldine and Woodbury 24, Lieutenant Mar-riot; Temuka, 50, Captain McCaskill and Lieutenant Hancox ; Major Montgomery, of Geraldine, was in command, and Captain and Adjutant Valentine was on parade. This made a total of 341 officers and rank and file. The battalion was put through same movements in fine style very few mistakes being made ; and the manner in which the cadets marched drew forth unbounded praise from a nurdber of spectators.' On several occasions the whole column was extended in. single formation and the sight of the boys marching ia an almost straight line was one which showed that, properly trained and handled, there was an excellent material coming on for, the defence of New (Zealand by citizen soldiers. After some manoeuvring, Colonel Lovoday, addressing the boys, expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present so that ho might bo able to explain battalion drill, such as they are unable to practice when scattered over the district ; and ho hoped that before long he would bo able to arrange for the battalion to have a week’s training in camp, when they would receive further useful instruction. He told the boys that lie looked upon them already as being volunteers and not merely schoolboy cadets. 'After more drill the inspecting officer presented a couple of shooting medals to Cadets Hamilton .(Main) and Smith (Waimatc). He referred to the advantages of being able to shoot well, end stated that it was the intention of the Defence Department to erect miniature rifle ranges in the grounds of the schools having cadet corps. At the conclusion of the parade Colonel Loveday expressed to the officers his high approval of the class of drill lie had witnessed.