The Press. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29. THE ARRIVAL OF SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11108, 29 October 1901, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29. THE ARRIVAL OF SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

On the arrival of Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald from the south last evening, Christchurch people may be said to have fairly let themselves go, and the welcome extended to that distinguished officer was as enthusiastic as anything he has yet experienced in New Zealand. Indeed, we are afraid he must have found the fervour of his reception a little embarrassing.-. The wild rush made to drag his carriage through the streets transformed the usually quiet thoroughfares of this Cathedral City into a scene of unparalleled excitement. Sir Hector might for a brief moment have imagined himself being charged by the Fuzzy-Wuzzies of the desert, but the British cheers and the Gaelic shouts.of welcome must have speedily given him reassurance that this somewhat alarming display of hospitality in reality proceeded from the very best intentions. Certainly, he bore it with great good humour. Perhaps it would hare been truer kindness to let him come and go more quietly, and to content ourselves with showing him whatever of interest the town and district has to offer, without all this lionising and mobbing. The truth is, however, that the patriotic fervour of Zealanders during the last year or two has burst through the ordinary bounds of reserve anS reticence i with which Anglo-Saxons usually curb their feelings. Sir Hector Macdonald is in himself a picturesque personality, and his history, his nationality, and his services to the Empire, all combine to invest his visit with unwonted interest. Just at this particular time, moreover, we are in the full flush of the Imperial spirit, and Sir Hector stands for us not only as a striking representative of the British Army, of whose valour and services we '> feel so justly proud, but -also the Motherland, to whom in this crisis we. are drawn by a strength of devotion such as we never ielt before. Our distinguished visitor may find U difficult, that under ordinary circumstances the people of Christchurch are of a somewhat lethargic temperament, difficult to rouse, even when Some important question is at' stake, in regard to which a little enthusiasm would be desirable. We assure him that that is. . the case, however, and if he should experience any personal inconvenience from the unwonted departure from our normal methods, we trust that he will forgive us in consideration of the causes whence'it has sprung.