DEMONSTRATION AT ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11108, 29 October 1901, Page 5

DEMONSTRATION AT ASHBURTON.

There was a large crowd of people ait 'the Aehburton railway station last even- . ing, and a* the express train pulled up General Sir Hector Macdonald was loudly cheered. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Collins), the. Mayoress, and their eldest son, Mr W. M. ..Collins, Cγ. Henry Davia, and Or. C. Reid were there to formally welcome the General.- H;B -Worship cordially welcomed the General on behalf of the inhabitant of Aehburton, and 'expressed a hope that lie wou'-d have a pleasant and safe journey through the colony. . The Mayoress then presented him with a sprig of genuine heather, and Mr J. Reid handed him up a •buhdh, tfh* parent stem of which came from Plodden Field. Mr Donald McLefin addressed a few words of welcome to the General in Gaelic, and then Mi , Choat came forward and exhibited 'hie Crimean medale and papers. , The' train made a> stay of a quarter of an hour, during which time Sir Hector stood chatting pleasantly to the Mayor and Mrs Collins, Or. . Reid, Cγ. Darie, and others, and smilingly bowed his acknowledgment* to the continuous greetings of ell who could get within hailing distance of the railway carriage. When continuously pressed to address the assemblage, be finally replied with a «mile and a bow, end the remark, "I am not a speaking machine." Aβ the train moved off Sir Hector wae enthusiastically cheered.