THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4548, 25 May 1889, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Yesterday it was tlio duty of every British subject, loyal or dialoyal, the plcusurcuble duty, the privilege, of every loyal British subject, to say. to think, to feel, the sentiment expressed m the common toast "TUE QUEEN; GOD BLEjS HBB " Yesterday Her Maiesty Queen VSjfcpria reached that higher than average loGgth of life threescore and ten years. She is still a halo woman, and there was therefore no irony m everyone wiehing Her Majesty "MANY ll&rrr BETtTBNS OF THE DAY." Titnaru made holiday m honor of the day. But how many of our six thousand or to of people cave a thought to the event which their holiday celebrated j> Holiday makers here— and from end to end of Now Zealand, our few telegrams iudicate — were favoured with " Queen'a weather," and we hope that m the varioua ways they adopted they enjoyed themselves, bo that they might wish for many euch returns of the day. THE VOLUNTEERS. Ibe Drill Shed presented a Tory busy scno yesterday morning at about 9 o'clock,theTolunteers m accordance with the time-honoVred custom turning out to keep up the Queen's Birthday. Tho parade was timed to start at 0.30, but owing to the men being rather late m turning up it was 10.16 before the battalion was told off. The C Battery were well represented, and drivers hooked m at the appointed hour. A« they did this, the opportunity was given to inspect their new eetot harness ; the specimen set of which is exactly similar to that m use m the ttoyal Artillery and was brought from Homo recently by Captain Jackson. The harness is all of brown leather, and is very strongly made. On tho near horse is a saddle for the driver, and the breching iB so hooked m forward on the shafts, that the horse has an exceptionally strong purchase m case of the gun going down hill. The traces are made of strong rope, covered with leather, and the truce hook has a joint with running link, so that m the event of the horse falling, the trace can be released instantly. The harness of tlio oft horse (the shatter) is somewhat similar m principle to the ordinary springcart names, but the pad or saddle has no turrets, and tho bridle is fitted with side, bearing, and leading reins. All the bridles ate open, » c., without blinkers, and tho bits are powerful, but capable of being so arranged as to suit the horses mouth and temper. At 10.15 when the battalion was told off tho parade stato Bhowed that there were 21 Navals on parade m charge of Lieut.•Commanding Wright ; 0 Battery 34 rank and file, Captain Jackson ; Tiraaru Eiflop, 26, Captain Joweey i High School Cadets, 13, Captain Wilson; the whole being under the charge of Captain Commandant Laing-Meaeon, the battalion being m command of Lieutenant Colonel Bailey. On the order to advance the Battery took their Armstrongs along the Main Boad, the battalion, headed by the Garrison Band m charge of Band Major Elgin (16 bandsmen), making their nay to the domain via High Street. On arriving at the park the artillery unlimbored their guns near the main entrance the battalion being formed m line to their left. All being m readiness the boom of the first Armstrong wai heard at a quarter to eleven, and was soon followed by the rattle of the small arms firing tho fen-de-joie. The firing was nil over m ten minutes, when the companies presented arms, the Garrison Band m tho meantime playing a few bars of the National Anthem. This over the colonol called for threo cbeors for Her Majesty the Queen, which were right loyally given, concluding with euch heartfelt expressions as " God ble»s Her." At tho close of the proceedings tho mon were marched back to the drill shed, where the parade was dismissed. The gun detachments of the C Battery then left for Splashing Point, where they had some excellent shot and shell practice m the afternoon. Ttie parade as a whole was very poorly attended, one thing militating against the Novals 1 muster for instance being the fact that nearly 20 of them were engaged working the steamer Tekapo ; while many members of tho other companies were holiday making otherwise. MILITARY FUNERAL. The funeral of the Sate Garrison Bandsman Watts took place yesterday afternoon. The volunteers mustered at the drill shed shortly after 3 o'clock, the funeral party being m charge of Captain Jackson of the C Battery. The men left the drill shed at 3.80, and were quickly foroiod m order for a slow march. 'Ihe deceased bandsman being on the roll of the Timaru Naval Artillery, the firing part; was composed of gunners from that corps under the able direction of BlalT Sergeant- Major Jonos. As the party moved off, the squad of Navals led, followed by members of the Garrison Band m charge of Bandmaster Woli ; then catno one of the O Battery's 9 p.r. Armstrong's, to which was attached four horses, and on which lay the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, and the deceased bandsman's late uniform nnd helmet. Tho gun was followed by tho chief mourners, and members of tho Timaru Bides and of the Timaru Fire Brigade, at the rear of which marched the officers of the corps, followod by a large number of civilians, lato friends of the deceased. On the way to tho cemetery tho band played the dead march, the route taken being along High street, the northern boundary of tho park, into the Main South Toad, and then along the southern boundary of tho park to the cemetery. Arrived here the coffin was taken down and borne by men of the O Battery into the mortuary cbapel where the sorvice for tho dead -was read by the Yen. Archdeacon Harper. At the conclusion, the funeral party was reformed, and marched to tho grava, where a very large numbor of people bad assembled and listened attentively to the solemn service. At tho close the squad of Navals fire? three volleys over the grave of their deceases' comrade, and tbe volunteers were then marched to the drill (bed and dismissed. Heartfelt were tho cxpretiions of regret by the many people present, for tha widow who is left with her little ones to mouru the lo*a of a kindly husband and father. FOOTBALL. The Sydenham team, bringing their handsome eilk bannor with them, arrived by the excureion train yestorday.and oftor ft short look round were driven to the A.A.O. ground, where the match was timed to commence at two o'clock. At this hour there was a fair attendance of spectators, nnd the veathor was fine. The match, which was a splendid 000, resulted m a win for the home team by one point ; the scores being— Timaru, ona goal and a try ; Sydenham, three tries. ') he homo toam was tie first to score, Percy getling a try within the first five minutes, and Macintosh converting. A couple of tries were thun obtained by Sydenham, the attompt at a mojor point m each cam fulling. In tho eecond spell play was very hard all round, and ft try to each toam was recorded. The visitors loft for home by the special at 6 20, after being entertainod at luncheon st the Club Hotel by the liinaru team. EXCURSION TRAIN. An excureion train from Christchurch «r---mod lit tho Timaru platform at noon yotterilny. H contiftetl of eleven carriages, coven of which were full, and from these disembarked upwards of 300 excursionists. The platform was crowded with people, assembled to meet friends on their brief visit, or drawn by curiosity merely. Tho train loft on ber ri'dirp journey at 5.20.

(By Telegraph.) AUCKLAND, Mat 24. Fine weather for the holiday. There is a parade m tbe Government reserve, races at Takapunn, and a courting meeting at Pnpntoitoi. Jhe holiday is general, and there are man; excursions. WELLINGTON, May 24. Tho weather to-day was very fine. Tbe only attraction m town was tho football garao st Nentown Park. About 3000 people were present. NELSON, Mat 24. The weather was Gno for tbo holiday. The volunteers paraded m tho morning, when a talute was fired. This afternoon a tootball match was plajed between the Morlborough Unions and Kelson Alberts, resulting m a draw. It was a splendid game, but neither tides (cored. CHHI3TCHURCH, Mat 24. The weather to-day was splondid. A close holiday was observed m town. The review m Hagley Park was attended by 825 volunteers including 191 cadetj. About 2000 spectators were present. The trotting meeting at Ueathcote was largely attended. A baseball match took place on Lancaster Park and the Salvation Army held a demonstration m Hagley Park m the afternoon. DUNEDIN, May 24. The weather was Dae for the holiday, but cold m tbe afternoon. The volunteers had a Beld day at Abbotsford where tbey mustered strongly. In town twii football matches were played. Zingiri Richmond beut Oamaru Athletics by 7 points to 1, and the Albambra second fifteen beat Oamaru Excelsior Club by 5 points to 4.