VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1856, 14 December 1874, Page 2

VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.

In accordance witK a notice issued by Major Cooper, officer commanding the district, the Volunteers met yesterday for church parade. The purpose in view was to exhibit to Sir Donald McLean the Volunteer force of the Thames. As it fortunately happened, the weather of yesterday, in the morning especially, was fine, and the muster cf the various companies was remarkably laige; indeed such a gathering of our Volunteers has not been witnessed for some time. The Naval Brigade and Thames Scottish Companies had a very powerful attendance of members, and the others all mustered well in proportion to their strength on the roll-sheet. The number of officers and men was considerably over 300, and as a marching body, they looked very fine, and to. many have recalled the oU days when the necessity for volunteers was more apparent, and when in consequence there.were more of them. The Thames Scottish Band played the Church Call in front of the Pacific Hotel, where Sir Donald McLean reviewed the Volunteers in battalion, and expressed himself very gratified to see such a display of military strength, the finest he had seen at one time in any district in the colony. Subsequent to this inspection the battalion was formed into marching order, four deep, and marched to church to the capital music of the Scottish and Naval Bands, who played alternately on the road. Arrived, there, most of the Volunteers visited the church, in which the sermon was delivered by Mr Bice, a member of the Melanesian Mission : his text was taken from the Lord's prayer, " Thy Kingdom Come ; " and he alluded to the Melanesian Mission as having been successfully advanced and productive of great good since its foundation by Bishop Selwyn, and the death of his successor, Bishop Patteson. After church the Companies were again formed into a battalion, and were put through some movements in drill, and after being marched to Grahamstown, were dismissed: