A FRIEND OF CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 9

A FRIEND OF CHILDREN.

ARRIVAL OF SIR JOHN KIRK. ' - . ' A MAN* WELL PLACED. There arrived in Auckland by tue Jluili Trunk express this morning • one of •'"■ most interesting personalities connected witli the noble work of i*»t(npfofiilg"'tl'P surroundings and ehvatiiig Hie u»pirati«>in of ragger* clii!dren in London. This person is Sir • .'John l\irk. and for over 40 years he .hiis bcM t' ■ position of secretary to the Racs'ed School I nion and Shaftesbnrr Sow'ty. Ixindon. In fact. .Sir Joh.il (then Mr. Kirk) coinph'ti'd ''is 40 years of office during ' the rck'n 'of the late King Edward VI [., and "rj&* Majesty was pleased to raise .him t» the dignity of knighthood in re.cognition of the outstanding success of his lif* work. The ceremony was- quite and also of an iin"prutr.ptii nature, so Sir John tcld a majnber, of the "Star" staff, who niet him this morning. A monster demonstration had -hen arranged for the presentation of a publicly-sub-scribed pnrw-"-s matter of thousands — and.-;' llft'-site painting of himself, when, "hj the morning preceding the '-' evenin« rix*-<l for this event, the Ragged *. fscfioel l'n'wn secretary was requested • ttf.Tafll n: l!, n the King at Buckingham i'.'c did so, in the belief that jc wus a visit merely resulting from -•"tbe. interest evinced by His Majesty ..from-.time to time in the raccged schooir wsr!?. However, King Edward VII. expressed a distinct desire to create him .a knight, nnd notwithstanding a desire -'to decline the'honour, with thanks to .'- Hi= 'Jiajesiy, the impressive ceremony •took piace ulniost on the instant. ,"' - *il •Jolin expressed great pleasure with , Jjfc tour through New Zealand, and thought the. country was one of which i the Empire might well be proud. 'T - feel so completely at home," he said, ■'among your people and the many, folk , -from the Old Land whom I have met -beir that it. sometimes seems that 1 "flight. ne.ver have been away from home "jtt all.''

And you harp-that feeling more with regard to New Zealand than Australia? - sir -tohn was asked. "Yes." he replied, • "I feel that the same, traditions and the . fame mother tongue bind us very closely , together." The visitor emphasised the great hospitality that had been extended "towards him in all parts of the Dominion and said he would like also to pay tribute to the Press of New Zealand for the kindly interest they had shown in him and his work. Sir John will be in •Auckland until Friday next, when he leaves hv the Zealandia en route for Home, via Vancouver. Sir John is one of those happy individual i who have found their true vocation in life. To quote his oxen words: "I felt that I was called, and I followed." He is, perhaps, just betn.e prime of life, but vigorous to- a decree, and always genial. No one would, in fact, think from his ap- - pearanee that be is undertaking the ..present tour of Australia and New Zealand for the purpose of avoiding ft nervous breakdown. But such is the case. Tlie cxectirur nature of his mental ■work has been very pronounced, and when the heed for u clmnge arose, Sir upon coming right away ! •' toHhy outposts of/the Empire (the-only 'portions lie had not visited), where, for j the past two or .throe months, he has] .been- glcajiing information which ho ■ .hopes .vill tie useful in connection with -the emigration branches of the move--;'.'ments with which he is connected. He "has been welcomed and entertained in high places throughout his tour, and < las ever ready to tell Australians and New Zealauders about the work that Ims.-so near to his heart. Sir .John will be .the guest of the Y.M.CA. .'to-morrow. Ap address will be given i at 4.: i(). followed hv a social tea at 5.30.