THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3208, 25 May 1871, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

<y " Never a Queen's Birthday yet have I turned ovit," said an intelligent old soldier, " but there has been rain during some part of the day," but yesterday was an exception to the rule. The early morning was a fine bracing autumn morning, the sun's rays being unusually strong for the seaßon of the year, with a fine bracing breeze blowing from the north-west, but still there was a portentous appearance about tho sky sufficient to raise unwelcome apprehensions for the Buecesa of tho firing which was to take place at the butts. By eight o'clock the companies had nearly completed their complement, a few stragglers dropping in behind time delaying tho commencement of the morniDg's parade. However, by a quarter-past, tho reclaimed land began to wear a busy aspect, a numerons assemblage of civilians having by that time assembled to watoh tho manoeuvring of tho companies. The artillery were first on the ground, and having placed their guns in position fell in as a company, with small arms. Colonel Reader having taken command, the covering sergeants took up ground and the companies formed brigade, the artillery ranking first according to precedence. In the absenoe of Captain Pearce, Lieut. Brandon commanded the battery, Major M'Barnett being in command of No. 1, and Capt Crowe in command of tho Veterans, the Cadets being under a sorgeant of the Veterans. The command " rear rank take open order" was then given, and tho Colonel inspected the arms and accoutrements of the Artillery, and this having been satisfactorily gone through, they were put through the platoon exercise. Colonel Reader then inspected No. 1 Company, the Veterans, and the Cadets, the Artillery in tho meantime having taken charge of the guns. There were about forty of each company on the ground, and twenty-five of the Cadets. Previous to forming into line the companies were pufc though a number of company movements, wheeling by subdivisions, forming fours, &c. The companies were then served with ammunition, and tho Colonel having assumed command of the brigade, gave the order to fix bayonets and whool into line. Tho order to load was then given, and the Artillery fired seven guns, tho rifles following with a volley, and the bands playing tho Anthem, this being repeated until the royal salute, twenty-one guns, had been fired. The Artillery fired in splendid time, excepting in the last charge of No. 3 gun, when a slight hitch occurred. The Artillery then limbered up, and tho rear rank of tho brigade having taken open order, tho shoulder arms was given. Tbo brigade thew gave a general salute, the bands playing " God Save the Queen." This was the most soldier-like part of the whole parade, and called forth tho admiration of the spectators, Colonel Ecader calling for throe cheers fov Her Majesty tho Queen, which was heartily responded to by the Volunteers. A hollow square was then formed, and tho Colonel addressed the men, complimenting them on the manner in which they had turned out, and making some remarks with reference to company management and district orders. Ho also stated that ho had telegraphed to Captain Sandys of tho Virago, informing him of the manner in which the men drowned had been buried. This done, Captain Crowe of the Veterans, reqnested Colonel Reader to present the prizes recently won at their company contest. Private J. White (<M points) and Sergeant Bowator (39 points) then stepped forward, and Colonel Reader, in presenting tho prizes, said ho hoped to see company competition kapt up, becauso only by that means wos that very desirable spirit of rivalry and omulation kept up which should always exist. He then presented to Privato White a handsomely ornamented pistol, and to Sergeant Bowater a silver drinking mug enclosed in a neat case. The brigade then reformed line, and the Veterans wore dismissed, No 1 Company remaining to transact some company business, and tho Artillery marching off tho ground in oharge of their guns, headed by the two bands playing in combination. A word of encouragement is deservod by tho Cadets for tho manner in which they underwent their drill, and for the creditable way in which they fired in tho volloy firing. From the playing of tho bands when marching off the ground, it is evident that all tho rivalry of tho past year (which has been conductod in a friendly way of course) hfi9 had the efl'ect of creating one first-class band, of which the City has much reason to be proud. Taken apart, there are a few things wanting in each which the other supplies : but we do not in any way advocate their amalgamation, for it is tho wholesome competition of the last year that has incited ench to regard its reputation so jealously, and tho proficiency exhibited in their playing is the result. The Artillery Band has turned out in its now dress tho last throe parades, and it certainly dims the lustre of tho Garrison Band, giving quite a smart appearance to the bandsmen. Of the parade itself, the unanimous opinion of tho bystanders was that it was one of the most successful that has ever taken place here. Tho men looked soldier-like, and tho manoeuvres woro gono through in a manner displaying a grout deal of discipline, which is alike creditable to officers and mon. THE FIHINGAt tho butts took place after the usual inspection parade, and the result again brings Mr D. S. Gray, of tho No. 1 Co. W.E.V., to the front, after a very close contest. Tho Bcorcs, it will be eoen, are rathor low, but this may bo explained to tho uninitiated by the peculiar arrangement for tho firing, the ranges being

200 yards standing, Wimbiedon targets ; 400 yards ineoling, 2nd class targets ; and 600 yards, any position, 2nd class targets; no sighting shots. The firing commenced shortly after 11 o'clock, with a fresh N.W. wind j but before it was completed the wind veered round, first to the westward and then to tho south, blowing rather fresh. The arrangements made for tho retiring of competitors as they failed to reach a certain minimum at the end of the first and second ranges, had a very beneficial effect ; and wo can only express a hope that competitors who were unfortunate enough to fail on this occasion will, by a little practice before such competitions, better qunlify themselves for similar future occasions. The contest was for a Snider rifle, presented by Colonol Reader, and other prizes. The following is the score : —

ILLUMINATION. | The G-aB Company honored yesterday evening by lighting up a star device of gas jets, which had a very finejeffecfc, and attracted the observation of all passers-by who came within the glare, which was visible from the upper part of To Aro Flat. A pipe led out of the upper window of the office, at the end of which was a circle of perforated pipe about a i foot or more in diameter. From the circle projected a series of arms not unlike the points of a compasß, each containing a line of burning jets. A light breeze blowing at the I | time rendered the effect rather peculiar, alternating between brightness and dimness — & stray puff sometimes blowing an arm or two into blackness, which would again burst into flame the next moment. THE ODD REIiLO"WS' HAM. Last night was certainly a centre of attraction, for it is only on rare occasions indeed that the public of Wellington finds itself so largely represented under one roof, and equally rare is it to see an amateur perfor- j mance so ably arranged and so successfully carried out as was done by the Press Amateur Dramatic Club yesterday evening. Tho transparency of the Wellington Fire Brigade, in whDso aid the performance was given, had been rigged up in front of the Hall on the previous day, and was lit up at sundown, while two fire engines outside the door, and groups of firemen moving about, served to attract a largo crowd about the building. Before the advertised time the house was filled, almost inconveniently so ; but as hundreds still kept presenting themselves, and as most of them made light of the uncomfortable prospect from want of room, and would not be denied, all sorts of devices had to bo resorted to economise what trifling space had been left unoccupied. Chairs were procured, and handed about over the heads of the audience : seats were re-adjusted, and the occupants put through an extra squeeze to make room for " juet another," until at length the audience seemed to have fairly settled down, each one being fully alive to the fact that he ocoupied no moi'eßitting room than was justly his due. Seated in front of the footlights was the orchestra, which was unusually powerful, being composed of the principal performers of both the Garrison and Artillery Bands, besides several well -known amateur musicians. His Honor the Superintendent (who was accompanied by Mrs Fitzherbert) was received by the opening bars of " God Save the Queen," the audience bestowing the usual mark of respect to the National Anthem. The rising of the curtain disclosed the Fire Brigade, in full i dress, drawn across tho stage. Mr A. Johnston then came forward and delivered tho follow- ! ing prologue with considerable elocutionary taste : — Friends and patrons! it is to-night my task Your kind indulgence for ourselves to ask, That you'll withhold your critic's voice sovero, From many faults that must perforce appear, In this, our Club's debut ; 'tis to implore Mercy for those who scarce have played before. Bo lenient ; enough thy kindly cheer To hush to silence every critic here. If tragic pathos, or if strains of wit, Can please tho patrons who before us sit, Bq ours that task ; or should the piecos halt, It is tho actor's, not tho author's fault. But, conscious all, that we have done our best, What more can we but leave to fate the rest ; The greatest glory of our happy few Is to be lauded and approv'd by you ; Or should wo c'en your plaudits fail to gain : Should alt our efforts to amuse be vain, Would you condemn (I scarce can think you would), Tho P.A.D. Club's pleadings for the firemen's good ! For those who thro' the silent peaceful night Rest half-awake to catch tho first, the faintest light Of Fire! Fire ! Fire ! Whoso open ears await the knoll Borne on the breeze of that dreadful warning bell. Who spring at once to duty, and most nobly dnve The divest risk to life, to limb, without a care. But doubt we will not, nor be inclined to fear, Since we believe that only friends aro here. With kindness, thon, pray look upon our deeds, Applaud our efforts as our play proceeds ; And when, anon, each shall have had his say, Tho curtain falling upon our finished play, Then your's 'twill be, kind friends, to soal our fate, To bid us perish, or our hearts elate, To trample out our Club's yot infant name, Or raise the P.A.D. Club to the height of fiiuic. Enough, kind patrons, to you we leave our fateShould we succeod let youv applaud be groat. If you applaud, it will not bo in vain ; For, should wo please you now we'll try again. On tho drop of the curtain, Captain Moss and his " Centrals" filed into seats which had boon set apart for them. Then came what was looked forward to by the audience as tho feature of the programme— the third act of Othello. To employ purely Shakesporian language we do not intend to ' gild refined gold' nor do wo intend to ' damn with faint prise,' but in the few remarks we intend to make we simply adopt one of the great authors most philosophic precepts, ' Nothing extenuate, &c,' and wo hope the principal characters engaged will accept them in that spirit. Of course the performers aro amateurs, and can hardly bo expected to have become proficient in running tho acalos in the gamut of nature— to have mastered tho lessons set down for all those who undertake tho task of rendering iv acceptable form, what is difii-

cult even to men of deep thought added to highly cultivated elocutionary powers. Acting under these great disadvantages, the performance ■was highly creditable to the principals, though the common fault of amateurs was, as it ever is, too evident. There was not sufficient power of declamation in Othello, and there was too much of amiability in lago. Othello, painted by Shakespeare, possesses all- the pathos and passion, shortly described, of a noble, ingenuous, and injured nature j while lago. is intricate, inscrutable, and damnable withal — a subtle typification — a " holding the mirror up to nature." But, not to be hypercritical, tße performance was creditable j still, if either intend to play Shakespeare wo would recommend him to study Shakespeare, though, it must be admitted, the task is somewhat of a metaphy» sical nature. The " Victorine" was the next piece on the pi'ogramme, and seemed most appropriate to the times, the opening seene — laid in Paris — being the "hounding" of an unprotected female by a party of "Reds." The plot of the piece was very good. Laconically told, it consisted in the fact of an avarioioub miser unconsciously sacrificing the lives of seven of his clerks on the charge of robbing his hoard. These clerkß bad been set to watch his treasure, and, unknown to them, the old man's greed for gold being bo strong within him, he, in his somnolent walks, appro* priates a portion of the charge committed to the care of his clerks. On the engagement of the eighth clerk, the solution of the matter comes about by the striking of a love chord between him and the old man's daughter j she, when the fate'of her lover becomes imminent, determining to solve the mystery, which she does, by assuming watch and guard herself, and surprising her father in his sonnambulism. The prinoipal characters were sustained by Miss Williams, Mr Williams, Mr Hunter, and Mr Mitchell. Mr William a is an actor of the old school, retaining the long-drawn articulation, but our amateurs may learn a great deal from hie acting of last night. Mr. Hunter was quite at home and quite at ease, the part he undertosb being played, without flattery, well. Mr Mitchell took the house by surprise. The part of Simon Siggell is comic aB written, but Mr Mitchell added greatly to it by his grotesque gestures and humorous infusion ; in fact his performance kept the house in a roar. The farce of the Dead Shot concluded the performance. Mr M'lntosh played a solo on the clarionet, but it was apparent from the first that something was wrong — Mr M'lntosh had to borrow an instrument to chord with the accompanying instruments, and although the fingering and time were masterly the performanoe was not a success, though that detracts nothing from Mr M'lntosh's ability. The late hour at which the performance concluded precludes us from noticing all who took 'part in the performance. We must, however, mention Mr Salmon's Caesio as being really good ; Mrs Prosser's Amelia was also very well sustained ; Messrs Isherwood, M'lntoah, Marshall, and Parker, supplied the orchestral musio ior the entertainment. At the conclusion of the second piece, Mr Hunter announced that the performance would be repeated either on Saturday or Monday night, so that the whole of the proceeds of last night could be handed over to the Brigade.

200 400 600 Tl. D. S. Gray, No. ICo ... 19 21 10-50 Holmee, V.C 15 19 15—40 R. O'Connor, No. ICo ... 17 21 11—49 J. H. Halae, No. ICo ... 13 20 15-48 A. P. Mason, A.O. ... 14 19 12-45 C. E. Bafckin, No. ICo ... 17 18 10-45 M'Taviah, A.O 20 18 6—44 White, V.C 19 18 7—44 Zohrob, A.C 19 16 8-43 J. M. Batham, No. ICo ... 17 20 6-43 Crowe, Captain, V.C. ... 17 24 2-43 M'Credie, A.C 15 17 10—42 Bowater, Lieutenant, V.C. 17 24 o—4l Brandon, Lieutenant, A.C. 13 16 11—40 Maxwell, G.S. Cadets ... 15 15 10—40 ;S. Wilson, No. 1 Co ... 11 16 10-37 i Brandon, Lieut., G.S. Cadets 11 23 3—37 J. Bowater, V.O 19 17 0—36 Bock, A.C 17 12 6-35 S. E. St. George, No. ICo 16 10 4-30 Brogan, A.C 11 19 0-30 ! M'Oleland, A.C 13 13 3—29 Stevens, V.C 11 15 0—26 !W. Scott, V.O 10 15 0—25 iJ. Gray, No. ICo ... 16 9 0—25 Greenwood, W. Cadets ... 13 11 0— 24 ' F. Harrison, No. ICo ... 14 9 0—23 W. Gray. No. ICo ... 11 9 o—2o Brown, V.C 11 6 o—l7 Kinniburgh, A.C. ... 8 9 o—l7 Pilcher, Lieutenant, A.C. 8 7 o—ls E. Scott, W. Cadets ... 10 0 o—lo Ludwig, A.O 6 0 o—6 P. Webb, No. ICo ... 5 0 o—s I Short, A.O 6 0 o—s W. Bowater, V.C. ... 4 0 o—4 Hill, A.C 0 0 0-0