HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 410, 9 June 1860, Page 4

HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.

[From tho Auckland Register, May 28.] The celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday in Auckland, on Thuisday last, unless we much mistake, will form a memorable chapter in the futnio history of New Zealand. Never, since the hour when " the first fleet" anchoied in Botany Bay, and thereby laid the foundation of the fifth quatter of tho globe, — never was the natal day of a British Sovereign celebrated under more strikingly honorable and interesting circumstances than was that of her Most Giacious Majesty Queen Victoria in this infant city of ours. We speak not of the staid and regulation forms ol loyalty observable on such occa . sions, but of the devotion manifested to the British Crown, and in a manner which struck the waimest paiticipators in the enthusiastic demonstration with equal wonder and suipiise. In all garrison towns, a review of the troops constitutes one of tho most attractive spectacles of the day; and, upon each Anniveisary, our Auckland parade-ground has been densely ciowded with sightseers eager to witness the maitial display. But, on Thursday last, Auckland had little or no garrison, save that oi her own citizen soldiery ; for the troops having long since left us for the Tar.tnaki wars, they who weie wont to enter the Albeit B.maek Squaio as admiring spectators, were now brought forward as active peiformers in the military diama. And, truly, a veiy attiactivc and a very effective exhibition did they make of what can be accomplished, even in a few short weeks, by men lesolvcd to do their duty in their country's cause. At 11 o'clock, the following force mustered in the Bariaok Square, under the command of Colonel Mould, R.E., viz., — 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, 47 lank and file O'Sth Regt. s 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 4 sergeants, 1 trumpeter, 39 troopers, Auckland Cavalry Guards ; 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 6 seigeants, 1 trumpeter, 70 tioopers, Royal Volnnteer Cavalry ; 1 field officer. 4 captains, 7 subalterns, 10 sergeants, 1 bugler, 308 rank and file, Ist Battalion Auckland Militia s 110 rank and file, inlying picket of Ist Battalion of Auckland Militia i 1 field officer, 3 captains, 8 subalterns, 17 sergeants, 1 bugler, 339 rank nnd file, Auckland Volunteer Rifles ; 2 subalterns, 3 petty officers, and 52 men of the Auckland Volunteer Coast Guard* making a grand total of 1053 of all ranks. Before we enter upon ( a description of the day's proceedings, a few words in explanation of the character of the force thus assembled will be requisite. Tho gallant 05th Regt., of which tho handful present constituted a part, is much too well known and appreciated to lequire eulogy at our hands j they have always been distinguished in the field j and whilst in quartets in New Zealand, whether in Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth, Wanganui, or Napier, their conduct will bear worthy comparison with that of any coprs in her Majesty's service. The Auckland Cavalry Guards, and tho Royal Volunteei Cavalry, have but just been formed ; the former appeared in a handsome and very becoming uniform, blue with white facings ; the latter in a thorough service uniform, consisting of a blue tunic, buff breeches, and boots ; both were admirably mounted, and had a scat in the Eadd le, and an air of force and efficiency, that elicited general commendation. The first battalion of the five that compose the Auckland Militia were only sworn in upon the 2nd of the piesent month, and have consequently been drilled but for a short period, and only for an honr or two in the morning. It is quite true that there aie many of the gallant 58th, — now New Zealand colonists — in their ranks, but it is likewise true that there are jrany more that never shouldered a filelock until recently called to do so. With respect to the inlying picket, it is composed of those who provide their own arms and accoutiements, and who, in consequence, are not to be called upon to leave the city, except in cases of emeigcncy. This portion of the Militia has as yet been but two days at drill, and their duty on Thuisday was simply that of a guard of honour to his Excellency the Governor. The Auckland Volunteer Rifles have most of them been nearly two years in service, and on duty since the lemovalofthe 65th Regt. to Taianaki; they have, therefore, acquired a competent knowledge of their duties, and have quite the port and bearing of veteran troops. The Coast Guard men ar9 being trained to tho great gun and cutlass exercise ; but as yet they are unprovided with aims, in consequence of the defective condition of our military munitions. Such, then, were the troops diawn up in the Auckland Barrack Square on Thursday ; the malines of H.M.S. liis turnishing tho guards for the various posts ; and Inspector Naughton, with Sei-geant-Major Syms, and the Auckland Police keeping the parade-ground, — no very easy matter, considciing the vast crowd of spectatois — some tour or five thousand — diawn together to witness the novel and spirit-stilling sight. By half-past 11 o'clock, the several divisions ■were foimed in line, the Cavalry Guards on the right, then the Gfith,— Auckland Militia,— Band of the 65th Regt. in the centre,— -Rifles,— with the Volunteer Cavalry on their left, — the inlying picket being posted in two divisions, one on either side of the saluting flag. Shoitly before 12 o'clock, His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Commodoie Loiing, C.8., the Chief Justice, the Attorney- General and Postmaster- General, and attended by an escoit, consisting of one officer and twelve troopers of the Cavalry Guards, arrived upon the ground ; and piecisely at noon H.M.S. Iris commenced a Rojal salute (the guns «! H.M.S. Niger, lying in the Mauukau, booming distinctly in the distance), which was taken up, at its conclusion, by the Coast Guaid stationed at the guns in Foit Biilomait. This salute was well timed and did infinite ciedit to the force. The clipper ship Avalanche lollowed suit as soon as the gnus of the tort had ceased, and, although unable to deliver a Rojal salute, hei woithy commander, Ca]>t. Stott, did the utmost in his power to demonstrate his loyal inclinations. No sooner was the fire oi the iiigate and the fort concluded than the infantry line opened theii feu de joie, delivering then lire in a mainipr which was the astonishment of eveiy one; tho customaiv movements of rmuehing past in slow and quick time followed, and weie poiionned with much quickness and piecibion. Without wishing to be invidious, we cannot avoid rem<uking the strong impression which was made upon the public mind by the soldierly aspect of the Volunteer Cavaliy. The way in which they manoeuvred was the theme of eveiy

tongue. By universal assent they wore pronounced to bo the right men in the right place. Should they bo requited to act, there can be little doubt that under rheii gallant and popular Lieut-Colonel, Nixon, they will be likely to acquire a reputation no way inferior to those terrible Indian troopers, Hodson's horse. It afibids us very great pleasure to append the following extract from Garrison Orders, in lofereiice to this leview. During an intercourse of 30 years with almost every colony of Australia wo never witnessed any such demonstration. It was a genuine public meeting of the most expressive character—not as exhibiting any aggiessive desire cm the part of those under aims, but a calm determination to show what they aie lesolved to do in defence of their hearths and homes. We are confident the display will be productive of highly beneficial results; for it is calculated to insphe the timid with confidence, at tho same time that it exhibits the peaceful citizen in an aspect and attitude that the Natives never mentioned it was possible for him to assume. Hitbeito, they had seen him but as a merchant and trader in small and isolated groups. On Thuisday they looked upon him thoroughly armed, effectively tiained, and moving in masses. Tho sight was not lost upon the intelligent among them; and we have reason to know that a voiy great revolution in their sentiments was the immediate lesult. It may not, perhaps, have the effect of causing the younger firebrands, whose voice is all foi wai, to cease their clumour ; but it is sure to lead the elder and more considerate to pause. At all events, it will have the certain effect of pieventing Auckland from being tlneatened by any rash attempt. As for tho suppiession of tho rebellion and tho maintenance of the Queen's supremacy, these are points which the Queen's Forces can alone accomplish. Garrison Orders. Auckland, 25th May, 18G0. Tho Colonel Commanding the Troops in the Auckland District has great gratification in publishing in Garrison Orders the following memoiandum from His Excellency the Governor, the sentiments in which were also expressed to him verbally on the Review Giound yesterday ;—; — Memorandum. " The Governor requests Colonel Mould to accept and convey to the Troops uuder his command his sincere thanks for the alacrity and goodwill with which they have responded to his appeal. "Auckland has good cause to be proud of the display made by hei Militia, Volunteers, and Yeomanry on Her Majesty's Birthday in_lß6O: they moved with the coirectness and fired with the precision of old soldieis, and he entrusts the safety of the district to them with as much confidence as he would do if they had been tiained for yeais." Colonel Mould need no' add more to the forego, ing high testimonial to the patriotic spirit and militaiy piecision of the Local Foices, but he would express his feelings of pride and pleasuio at being entrusted with the command of a body of highspirited men to whom his Excellency justly confides the safety of the Auckland District. Colonel Mould would also tender his thanks to the Commanding Officeis, Officeis, Non-Commis-sioned Officers, and Privates of the several Coips; to the former for the energy and tact they have displayed in bringing their Corps into such a Btatc of efficiency in so shoit a period, and to the latter for the intelligent willingness with which they have leceived instructions, and their perseveiance in attending to obtain it. Levee. At 2 o'clock His Excellency tho Governor hold a Levie at Government House, where a Guard of Honour, consisting of 3 officers and 100 men of the Volunteer Rifles, with the Band of the 65th Regt., was in attendance. [From tho Auckland Register, May 28.] The following is the memorial drawn up by the Committee appointed at the Public Meeting of Saturday. It is, we understand, being numerously signed ; we have been requested to give expression to the wish of the Committee that the several lists of signatures should be delivered at the Mechanics' Institute before eleven, a.m. this day. To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. — The huinblo Petition of your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, resident in the Province of Auckland, in yonr Majesty's Colony of New Zealand, respectfully sheweth, — That your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects beg to approach your Majesty with assurances of their unshaken allegiance and devotion to youi Majesty's Royal Crown and Peison. That your Petitioneis have emigrated from various parts of your Majesty's Dominions to the Noith Island of Now Zealand, in the full assurance of the maintenance of the Supremacy of youi Majesty, and in the belief that your Majesty would graciously protect and encourage them in the peaceful pursuits of trade and industiy. That your Pelitioneis have at all times beon anxious to preseive the most friendly relations with the Aborigines of this Island. That the Treaty of Waitangi, by which the Native Chiefs ceded the Soveieiguty of the Islands of New Zealand to your Majesty, has been most scrupulously maintained on the pait of your Majesty with relerence to your Majesty's Aboriginal Subjectb. That whilst no other assiatanco has been lendered to the Colonists than that usually given in all your Majesty's Colonies, your Majesty's Repiesentatives, animated by your Majesty's benevolence, have, by loans of Public Monies fiom the Colonial Revenue, assisted youi Majesty's Aboriginal Subjects to erect Flour Mills, to puichase Vessels, and in various via\ s to engage in Trade and Agriculture. That it is the belief of your Petitioners that many of your Majesty's Aboriginal Subjects have latterly misinterpicted these evidences of your Majesty's benevolence, and instead of legaiding them as the manifestations of your Majesty's inteiest in their welfare, have long ceased to consider them in any other light than the tiibute which weakness pays to power. That a growing contempt for your Majesty's authority has for bomo time been manifested by the Maones, to uhich the patient foibeaiance of youi Majesty's Repiesentatives, and the small number of Tioops stationed in this Island, have not a little contributed. That this unhappy feeling is evinced by the fact that the Maories have lately stopped your Majesty's mails ; and have grossly insulted your Majesty's

Representative (Governor Gore Browne) j That by electing a King to whom they have tiansferred their allegiance they havo combined to exercise sovereign rights over large territories in order to prevent the sale of lands by individual tribes or persons to your Majesty's Representative, thereby violating the Treaty of Waitangi. That your Petitioners believe that tho present outbicak at Taranaki is a natural consequence of such violation of the Treaty of Waitangi. That for the maintenance of your Majesty's supremacy, and for the defence of their lives and propeity, large numbers of your Majesty's Subjects in this Province of Auckland have formed Volunteer Companies — Rifle and Cavalry, — and that your Majesty's Representative lias fuither made a levy en masse in the parts of this Province most likely to be endangered, and to which almost the whole population capable of bearing arms have loyally and cheerfully icspondcd. That in consequence of this unsettled state of affairs, the trade of your Petitioners is suffering severely j that large numbers of people aie leaving tho Colony ; and that unless your Majesty's supremacy in this Island be speedily and decisively enfoiccd, your Petitioners believe that still larger numbers will leave these shores s that the interests of your Majesty's subjects, botli European and Maori, will be deeply injured : that immigration will be arrested : that the influx of capital will be greatly letarded : that an angry feeling will be engendeied between the two races much to be deprecated ; and that tho peaceful and prosperous colo. nization of the North Island of New Zealand will bo indefinitely postponed. That your Petitioneis therefore earnestly beseech yonr Majesty to take such measuies as will best maintain your Majesty's supremacy, thereby promoting the haimony, security, and welfare of your Majesty's Euiopean and Maori subjects.