AN INTERVIEW.

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

AN INTERVIEW.

{special to "the pbess.") ' ' October 22. Apparently Generaji Sir Hector Macdonaid had very little to say to the interviewer. The "Star's" representative got a chat v/ith him,. bxit, while personally very pleasant, he yielded very little "copy." Indeed, he said at the outset that there was not much that he could speak about. 11l answer tG a. question whether hit leave was owing to illness, he replied:

' "No, I hare not been ill, but I confess that - '| Ifeel better since coming to the colonies."- ( V. Invited to say how long he would stop' Vl in New Zealand, his reply was: 'It is im- ■ possible to tell. lam ignorant as yet-- ->! not as to your geography, for I know it 3 V geography,'but as to ways of getting about. ■' ' __«„ , , "Well, when are you to returfc? aeked / the reporter. *'I have to be in Colombo on the 12th of December." / "I presume it is just a holiday trip.' "Yes, that is so. It, is entirely a, private visit." , . "Are you proposing to visit any relatives?" ' , . r " "I shall see a good many of them, no doubt." "Wi*at sort of relatives? have you any brothers or cousins in the colony?" "None that I know of, but in a sense all my countrymen are my relatives—thai ';'; is what I meam." ■ ."- : "You didn't manage to get into Mil--* ,' ford?" • ~ . ..- ----"No, and I was very much disappointed. -: Not, however, more so than Captain Waller, who would have been glad to go in, but for the thick weather." "Is bhere anything you have to say to the people of New Zealand , '" "Tell them that I am delighted to have an opportunity of coming to your colony, where I know ma<ny of my own people -. have made, homes, and where they seem ■' •to thrive." The remainder of the conversation was simply polite fencing. The General has definitely promised to be in Dunedin on Friday, and to give the Gaelic Society an hour before leaving. He , goes to the lakes to-morrow, either by the express tram via Gore, or by special to Lumsden, in which case lie will not reach here until Friday, staying over Sunday. He has telegraphed to tlie Mayor that he will be pleased to see the school cadets.