VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11277, 26 May 1891, Page 3

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

A church parade in honour of the. Queen's Birthday was held on Sunday afternoon. The troops assembled on the foreshore at half-past two, and after a littlfe preliminary manoeuvring inarched to the Drill Hall, headed by the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Martin. ' There were 43 of the Navals present, and about £5 or 30 of each of the other companies. Major Watt was in command, the companies being under' their (respective officers ; Major Neill and Quartermaster Captain Thain, on the Reserve list, were also preeent. There was a large attendance of the' general public, many being unable to find seats. Mr Manning led the singing on the harmonium, and the choir of Christ Church also gave their services. Theßevs. A. O. Williams, T. L.Tudor; and J. W. Chapman were the officiating clergymen. Mr A. Williams praohed the sermon, taking as his text 2, Samuel xxiiilS — 17, and concluding with an earnest appeal on behalf of the soldiers' monument fund. A collection was then taken up in aid of the fund, and we understand that nearly £12 was collected. During the process 'of the collection the band played a sacred piece, " Rock Hill." A ceremonial parade under the command of Major Watt took place on Monday morning at 8 o'clock. The following were the number* present: — Wanganui Navals, under Captain Clapman and Lieutenants Neill andßussoll, 64; Wanganui Rifles, under Lieutenants Foster and Hughes, 28 ; City Rifles, under Captain Willis and Lieutenant Turner, 37. After putting

the men through several movements, Major Watt gave- them instructions as to S- the firing of the feu de -joie, and after a little preliminary practice they were .marched outside and supplied with blank cartridge. The/cv dejoie is a manoeuvre which ia exceedingly trying to the nerves of inexperienced troops, a"nd one which needs a great deal of practice before it can be properly carried out, as the fear of not firing at exactly- the right moment is apt to make the mfin lose their presence of mind, and do the very thing they are trying to avoid— come firing long before their tarn comes, and others nofc till too V Jate. On the present oo3asion the firing p;&9jgkn.with. tolerable steadiness, but as ifc

went down the front line became more and more irregular, and by the time it turned the come- the troops had become completely demoralised, and fired on the " shut-your- eyes - and-pull - the-trigger " principle. The second attempt, however, was rather more successful. The feu de joie was followed by the royal salute, and the proceedings closed with three cheers for the Queen. The Battalion parad > was preceded by a company parade of the Navals, at 7.15 a.m., at the conclusion of which they were photographed by Mr Martin.