The first parade of the season came off on Saturday, and was, considering everything, a very creditable turn-out. Punctually at 3 p.m. the several branches of the Corps mustered in the Police Compound where they were formed into companies under the respective Captains, Major Mor-risen being im command. The numbers were not so large as they might have been, if the uniforms of all the recruits, who have joined this season, had been ready, but taken altogether it compared very favourably with past first musters. No. 2 Ca., Captain Bright's, was the strongest numerically, and No. 3, Captain M. Boyd Bredon's, came_next.' The Mickies," under Captain Dudgeon, although not The first item was the Overture La Muette} so large as the other two, presented a very soldier-like appearance, being much the tallest men of the three companies. But there was very little to choose between the three as to efficiency in drill, which, as Major Morrison said in his brief address to the Corps, was fairly good considering that it was the first lo since last year. The Light Horse under Captain Hough, all looking very smart indeed, counted about a dozen sabres, and the Artillery mustered in strong numbers, but their ponies were anything but well in hand and gave their drivers plenty of trouble. Headed by the Town Band, led by Chev. Vela, the whole force marched out along the Maloo, followed by crowds of Chinese; and the Infantry, when they came as far as Lloyd Road, fell into fours and wheeled into the side road, while the Artillery and Light Horse proceeded for drill to the Race Course. The whole Infantry force, minstering over a hundred, was tien put through a number of manceuvres by Major Morrison, and through the small space in which they had to work greatly impeded their movements, and took away from the general effect, they acquitted themselves fairly well. The manual exercises, however, which are the rudiments of a soldier's education, were rather weak, and although Colour Sergeant Rankin and Sergeant Everett, fom Hongkong, tare been hand at work with the other drill instructors and officers, knocking both recruits and old Volunteers into form during the past fortnight, there is still a youd deal to be done before the annual Inspection, which is drawing near, arrives, and it isto be hoped that-all the men will take advantage of the intervening drills to perfect themselves, and put on a little extra smartness before Major Churchill is asked for his opinion of the Corps. The Infantry, after being briefly addressed by the Major Commandant, formed into fours and marched along the Bubbling Well Road headed by the Band, till they picked which the whole force wheeled about and up the Artillery and Light Horse, after
marched back to the rendezvous where they were dismissed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.