Parade numbers causes surprise

Senior cadets on parade in Princes Street, Dunedin. - Otago Witness, 19.2.1913. Copies of picture available from ODT front office, Lower Stuart St, or www.otagoimages.co.nz

It is safe to say that the citizens who turned out in such large numbers on Saturday, February 8, to view the parade of the Dunedin Garrison troops were surprised at the magnitude of the affair.

Accustomed to the sight of a mere handful of men drilling together or travelling to and from parade, the average citizen was not prepared for the revelation provided in the parade of such a large body of troops. Two circumstances afford cause for gratification, the first being that the Territorials and cadets mustered well, and the second, that the public turned out in numbers that indicated more than a passing interest in the training of the youth for home defence.

In these respects the parade was more than justified. The cadets mustered particularly well, and as usual attracted more interested notice than did the seniors. Headed by the straight and stalwart figure of Major Murray, himself a convincing illustration of the physical advantages of military training, the cadets swung into George street wonderfully well considering how they were handicapped without the lead of a band.

The High School Battalion caught the eye for steadiness, whilst of the others the Mornington Company had the largest muster, totalling 51. The Territorials, in full marching order, looked for the most part thoroughly businesslike until they reached the crowded thoroughfare when, like numbers of the cadets, many of them could not resist the temptation to greet friends lining the route. On parade soldiers are neither required nor expected to acknowledge friends, and this is a lesson to be constantly impressed upon young troops.

Some Territorials whistled upon friends on the roadway, and grinned and even exchanged vocal greetings, and the public assisted by making all sorts of efforts to attract the attention of their soldier friends. Company commanders should take still more pains to impress upon their commands the meaning of steadiness.

• Local motor car owners were at first a little hazy about the conditions of service to which they were liable if they responded to the department's invitation to join the motor reserve. Some of them were under the impression that their cars would be required for the rapid transport of troops. Colonel Bauchop and Captain Robinson conferred with representatives of the Otago Motor Association and cleared the air with regard to the obligations.

It was explained that the motor cars would not be required for the transport of troops, but would be used by officers for staff tours, manoeuvres, etc., and that reasonable notification would be given when cars were required. The association officials anticipated no difficulty in securing the names of an ample number of owners willing to place their cars at the service of the Defence Department under the conditions named.

• A rather uncommon sight was witnessed on the Island Bay Beach on Sunday (says the Wellington Post). Four of the local fishermen went out into the strait in their oil launch about daylight, and returned at 3 o'clock in the afternoon with one of the biggest takes of fish ever seen in the bay - viz., about 300 large groper, bass, hake, and three sharks, the largest one weighing between 120lb and 130lb. Lines 50 fathoms (300ft) long, each with 10 hooks, baited with herring and mackerel, were used, and it is almost needless to say that the boatmen were obliged to work exceedingly hard to haul in such a quantity of large fish. - ODT, 15.2.1913.