HIS ARRIVAL IN THE SOUTH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11103, 23 October 1901, Page 8

HIS ARRIVAL IN THE SOUTH.

; A HEARTY WELCOME.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCAKGILL, October 22. Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald ar : rived by the Vvestralia at daybreak, and, on behalf of the Government, was welcomed by Sir Joseph Ward. About fifty sat down to breakfast in the saloon of the steamer, including representatives of tha Dun'edra and Southland Highland Societies, and of local bodies. Tne Southland ripe Band played the visitor to the railway station, where an immense crowd lustily' c&eered as the train left for Invercarrill. On the journey to town children of various schools, who have been given a holiday, lined, up at the stations and cheered. ■ , , At Invercargill the General was met bj the Mayor, and a large assembly, after which he met the Veterans'; Association, and visited the local institutions. Thera will be a banquet to-night. (special to "ths press."} INVEROARGILL, October 22. "Heres to the heroes that Scotland can boast, . May their .names never die —tnat s a Migulandman's toast." ' I It is certain that the words of the \ old song will continue to merit a place i in British, minstrelsy so. iong ns Scotland can boast such heroes as bir Hector Macdonald, and it is equally certain that the proffered sentiment of the pride of tie nice will continue to find adequate and never-dying expression so long as a Scotchman worthy of nis brose remains to ornament this, the land of his adoption. . To-day afforded a magnificent opportunity for an altogether noteworthy demonstration of Scottish Enthusiasm. As the Westralia stole stealthily up the harbour, before the sun had risen, General Maedonald was reminded that the far-flung tartan of the brotherly love of his, kinsmen in this colony had already enveloped him beneath its folds. ' The original programme of the Bluff reception was considerably amended. It was intended that representatives of the Reception Committ&e,*the Gaelic Society of New' Zealand; the Southland Highland Society, and the Caledonian Society,-, together with air Joseph Ward, the Pipe Band, and the friends of General Maedonald, should have embarked on the tug and steamed out to meet the The big steamer arrived off the BlufP Heads .before daylight, on account of not visiting Milford * Sounds yesterday, owing to fog and thick weather. Consequently before the shore party could be embarked on the tug the Westralia could ba. seen coining up the harbour. Two Press representatives alone did the honours of hailing the Westralia as she loomed out of the .early morning mist. As she direw closer. a stream \>f "Brither Scots and Pipers'' trickled enthusiastically out of the sleeping town towards the objective points. Tihe Health Officer's inspection of the ship's. company occupied a very start time, and then- the. visitors were admitted to the steamer. captain Moeller very kindly placed the dinincr saloon at their disposal, and had light refreshments served. Sir •' Joseph Ward occupiad the head of the table, and on his right sat Mr A. McKellar, chief of the Highland. Society of Southland. When all were seated a brisk, squarebuilt figure bustled in. There was ".no mistaking-the man. . He was the original of the • treasured picture adorning every home in the countryside—"Fighting Mac." Loud applause greeted has entrance, and a hundred pairs of eyes feasted themselves upon his world-famsd personality. The great General is admirably described by his pictures, not so tall, perhaps, as popularly imagined, but trim, squaretiuiit, wonderfully, active, and erect,' and never at rest for. a moment. The impression is conveyed of a man with trelnandous reserve muscular and nervous force. A pair ,of needle grey eyes flash out from brows with just a suspicion of shagginess. The. "Fighting Mac" of war .may be a grim, hard, military machine, but the "Fighting Mac' , of peaca ; is a selfpossessed, courtly gentleman,. bubbling over with smiles and good nature.. There is a shade of the orthodox British affectation drawl in his voice, but behind it all is the foundation of rich, 'true, Gaelic speech-making, short and hearty.! Sir J. ~G. Ward bade him welcome in the name of the people, Parliament, and the Ministry, and said if the session were not in progress there would have been more Ministers and members present to greet the illustrious visitor. To make the stay pleasurable, special trains would be at his disposal, , and all the other Government Departments, . such as the 'Postal and Telegraphic services, available for. his free use while in the colony. All were delighted to see General Maedonald ' looking so well. The speaker had seen him in London a few years ago, but he was look* . ing even bettor now, notwithstaiiiding the turmoil, strain, and fatigue of the arduous campaign he-, had gone through. Mr McKellar, speaking for tlie Gaelic and Highland Societies, said all the Scotsmen in tha colony were charmed when they heard of his arrival at Fremantle, and that he wai coming to New Zealand. General Macdonalas visit had electrified thsm, and he (fhe speaker) could not express in words "t Us delight he felt, General Maedonald said it was very «arly in the morning to begin speaking. He found, from Fremantle to the Bluff, the whole of the Australians rose very early in ,tlip morning. , Perhaps that was one of the reasons Avhy they -had prospered. Their forefathers, must have wrought early,and late, and those ol them who were taking their places must not forget what they owed to them. He thanked those present for the kind welcome they had extended, and for leaving their homes far in the country to welcome a soldier, who had tried to do his duty. He was proud to learn that in doing his duty he bad gained their approbation. Jt was with some degree of pride that he found the taxtan represented* that day. Hβ was pleased the picturesciue garb of ths Highlands w-as not forgotten. They liuH no antiquities, no ancient sculptures, no architecture in the colony, to provide traditions, but they had brought with them the garb of Old Gaul, and, in time, probably, it would come to be regarded that Scotland and New Zealand wexe linked as one country. He was a man of few words, but could only say he felt very deeply their early attentions to him on arriving in their,country. He wish, ed them to remembsr that he was not speaking with lip service, but from the bottom of his heart, when he thanked them very cordially for the warm reception they had accorded him. As the company filed out of the saloon, all were introduced to the General, who had a smile and a gentle greeting for everybody. Shortly before eight o'clock -the Pipe Band, under Pipe-Major McGregor, returned to tha wharf, and escorted General Macdonaid to the railway station, where a large crowd-assembled to *wlum off, and cheered lustily as the train steamed out. At* Invercargill he was met by the Mayor and Councillors, and thousands of the public, and had a splendid reception.