LORD KITCHENER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 748, 22 February 1910, Page 6

LORD KITCHENER.

HIS JOURNEY NORTH.

ARRIVAL AT CHRISTCHURCH.

CIVIC RECEPTION. ~./ (By ' Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christehurch, February 21. • The arrival of Lord Kitchener in Christehurch by the second,express from the south to-night drew .forth perhaps as. large a - crowd as ; has yet assembled to bid a welcome to any distinguished visitor to Ghristohurch. It was, moreover, not a crowd merely of curious people anxious to tatch; a glimpse of a man of note. • It was more an assembly of those familiar with the main features of a great military career, and animated by a desire to show,''by the heartiness of their welcome their appreciation of the vast service, rendered by him to the.EmpiTe., The Keld-Marshal.'.was timed.for 7.27.p.m.,;when;the.• secondv.express, from the south- reached Christchurohj but, some considerable tune before that honr, the"' streets through' .wEich' he was to pass on his,\ray from the railway station to the -. Christehurch Club—his headquarters while in . Christchurch-^were; well lined with people, .whilea.vast crowd had assembled ■ opposite to. and, in. the, vicinity of the station; As tho time went on the crowd increased, and, when the "train drew in; the throng of people was' very dense. -~ ■ '■-.■■.. ' '"' ■:'. '.'■■.':■ : .'■

Christehurch Does Things Well.' .;,] The' welcome accorded was 'essentially, a civic .function, but. attendant '• features were provided by • the m'ilitaryi and .so .well was the whole affair; organised that not a single: hitch, ocdurred. -The, Highland Bifles^fbrined the guard of honour, and -that :company,"; in full-dress, wero drawn lip before 'the temporary etagiiig leading from the railway,platform, tho.presentation of.the civic address was to be made. ; : Beyond.: the guard '.of honour came the.Canterbury-Yeomanry'Cav-also " Tesplendent .'in. 'bright garb, while, on. the, platform- itself, was a' company, of yplunteere:drawn.partly<from.the College Eifles :.• and .partly from the; City■ Bifles.' 'v' ■■'-•■•• ■:'. ■:->'/ ■'■'■'''■: ;'':' ! -"'"v

,: Four,large:elbctric/lights, shied an unusual -radiance .in- the locality,'.'and ..the scene .from, the platform—looking across, the, gay. coats:.of. the -volunteers-and up Manchester: Street-densely, thronged with people—was-, most .picturesque -arid.■■;■ animated. .On, the-platform awaiting, the; arriyal-. of the distinguished visitor, was. a little /group.-of. civic- authorities, leading, citizens and , ,military;.officers..;. ,'' -.'.■■' .-. .. Presently,'the;' head .light of : .'the .engine appeared, round.'the ;,last' -. curve. \ The .Mayor,'..and '~copnoillors .then', took.-up positions, pn the -opposite'. l edge, of-,the platform ~in (readiness to, welcome LordKitchcner.:as.ihe.;Stepped from his- car-, riage. , The. .train v.steamed . slowly'.'in, each -.car ; as . it':passed'' being :; eagerly 'scanned.-.-At length' the .Ministerial , -car appeared : at,- the>-y«ry, end -.of'" the. train,and'. in.ithis was. '"seated,-with others ,a big' man;frith('.'a,powerful : ,face and ruddy complexion. , '.This was.:lord ! Kitchener. A- moment's ■'interval. , 'and ;he, was'on.the' platform;'and: introduced-'-.by. the . Prime Minister,to the Mayor,.by whom he'.was in. turn introduced to the city councillors. ■•■-..;• .V •... i - ; ■ •■.,-■■.

''.'••■■'.'..- ; ; Arrival and.Welcome. . .Piloted by.the Mayor, the party crossed-' the ■ platform to :whero, ; , the temporary staging : .was'.Vbuilt,' a'nd.'iw'hen the figuro .of. the "tall .Field.-Jlarshal appeared, .the' enthusiasm ofitHe crowd! found ..vent in •hearty.cheers. \Lord Kitchener then.left the staging and made a-. brief .-'inspection oi the two companies drawn up-before him. This over,. he returned,' and the main business of the function followed— the speech of■ welcome by the Mayor: and tEe presentation of the address from tho,,municipality.,\v.v'.:-: ; ■-'.■ " ; - .' - ; ' ; ; The Mayor, "in .the'course' of a brief speech, said that before presenting'the' fprmaraddress from the council' he would•like to express-the great pleasure which : it gavo. him and. the citizens of: Christchurch! generally to welcomo-"to'-this dis-,tant;--part of the Empire so distinguished a visitor. The visit of' Lord Kitchenerwas regarded not only'.as a great honour, .but: one that would" probably '.have-.a' considerably: influence on the future defence, policy of the Dominion.: ilt was' ■ recognised ■ that Lord Kitchener's, .great experience and great ability, shown in' other narts of the. , .Empire, peculiarly fitted himto give advico. which probably was.-never more wanted than it''was at the present, time; He regretted that" •the time., at Lord- Kitchener's, disposal prevented \nn 'opportunity" of ' according him- greater'hospitality than' was.'possible, on. the' present occasion,. but he hopedVthat 'the' present might' not- be the; last- occasion on which Lord Kitchener would -'visit' New Zealand, and that, on future.occasions, he would have more time at .his disposal. '■■ He hoped that, Lord -Kitchener—short■BS'iras Tiis :Tlsit-to Christchurch—would carry back with• -tarn a,-- pleasurable 'recollection -of the - city. (Loud applause.) ';.,.' '

'■;; I } .; Municipal:.' Address, -' ' ■; j-The municipal address was,read by the' lown'Clerk,.and presented by the' Mayor b?;Lord Kitchener..■,'. The text of the address was as follows:— ;. :■ ..-. . ■;. ■■•'.'■- To Field-Marshal Viscount Kitchener, of' Khartoum and of the Vaal, GC B 0.m.; g;c.s.i;,g.c.i£.g., G;C.i.e., " ■'Your : lrf)rdship,; :;; !V. :;,,,:..;:: ' :\';\

:'■ On behalf of the..citizens of church.it,affords.,us the greatest 'possible Sleasure to tender to you ..a most corial and hearty welcome, and to assure you of the feelings of pleasure with which your brief, sojourn- in our : midst is ceived by all classes-of the/community. The Struly British, character, , , impressed upon the City of Christchurch' in : particular, .and- : the province of Canterbury m 'general, by.- ;jte .founders,' which! still remains/, to,.distinguish them; will,, .we trust, not be one of- : the least pleasurable remembrances of your tour through the Dominion--of-New Zealand; , : We ,hail with; a considerable amount of'satisfac-' non your visit at.this particular .juncture,' when'the Dominion is', abbut ; ,to in-, sntute an important'; change.in : its'system of ■ defence.; _ The advice of such a distinguished military ; authority as yourself in connection withMlie. vital subject of fitting-ourselves to adequately defend thie. portion of tho-Emniro'in eiisu" ot. need, will, we feel-sure; be. of "the; greatest possible 'service to the Government, and the Dominion. Your wide experience in dealing, with matters of this kind, in all parts' of -.the British' Empire, and the , marked success which has attended ■.■your' efforts renders, the visit which you are, making., to ;New Zealand one of .the most important events. which has' ooc'urred in its: history."The l intense ; loyalty and patriotism whidh are' characteristic of New. Zealanders. prompt' us to express our nigli'"admiration of tlio many and invaluable serrices' whion you!hive rendered to the King, and the Empire, and we esteem it a great-privilege to'be.ible to'receive, in .this remote portion of His Majesty's Dominions, so distinguished a! soldier and'servant of, the. King as yourself. By-all Britons the name. of Lord Kitchener, of Khartoum, is.,'held in the highest honour, and!we ,venture to hope! that, though your stay in; our midst will be but short, you will'carry away pleasurable . recollections of your, visit. Signed tnis 2lst'day .of. February, lDioi on bohalf of the Mayor, councillore, and citizens of the City of Christchurch, C Mayor, H. E. Smith,'' Town Clerk. . •• ';■ The Field-Marshal Speaks. After an address of welcome had been road Iby the Mayor, Lord Kitchener, whose voice carried over a .remarkably. large area, made the following reply :~ ...... -■'■'■•"I thank all tno citizens of Christ-'-chnrcn for the very kind and cordialTelcomo which they!bayo afforded,me. You, Mr. Mayor, have allnded to the .'.'■ possibility of my advice being of , somo use' to the Government of this • country! I can assure' you'that," if such is the case, and my esporience. in military mattera can ba of any

a«fetance to them, ■it ..Trill -be! most willingly placed at their.. .disposal, (loud applause.) It will be a 6ource of the utmost gratification.to me, in' after yesas.if, by this means,'l can' be- asaociaied with any meaauie that : will enable "the' splendid' young' man-' hood that I have seen in all parts of New, Zealand to render, themselyea. thoroughly efficient for the' defence of their' country,' and able to tako their share in' the maintenance, honour, and solidarity of the grand:old Empire to which wo all: belbng." '(Loud, appla-nee.)] , '"'.V^','.■"'■ ', ,' ■'''-

Three Tinging cheers .were given. for Lord Kitchener at'the closo of nis reply , , and the little function of welcome came to an end. Lord Kitchener, accompanied, by the Prime Minister,' tho Mayor, and Colonel: Kirkpatriok. (his aide-de-camp), then drove away, their carriage being fallowed by .others, containing members' of the Defence Council, Colonel Hawkins (Officer- Commanding the District)/ and other i military officers and councillors. To-morrow morning Lord Kitchener will inspect: the. Lyttelton forts, and, in the afternoon, will review'cadets and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. • '■■ .; . • • Other Welcome*. • 1 .[ (By.Teleerapli.— , ''■'.■■ ■■'-'■■■■' Ashburton, February 21. ■ A , crowd of .over 1500 people. from the borough and '.the country gathered .at the railway, station' this evening to' see Lord Kitchener as he passed through. AVi address of welcome was presented , by the Mayor, the Field-Marshal responding. Leading citizens.were introduced, and the proceedings during: the stay of the train were very enthusiastic.' The Premier, in the course of a brief speech,' said that this was the first time since Lord Kitchener arrived that he had referred to Lord Kitchener's presence in the, country; and the objects of his vieitj and he did so now in .order to. express .his feelings and. the gratification' of,", he might say, all New Zealand at the. Government, hav-., ing the benefit of the knowledge, i experience, judgment, and skill of 3uord Kitchener,.to ..advise.-them in.'all important questions of internal defence. It was an epoch ;in ,the. Dbminion's .history.,.. .Sir Joseph.Ward concluded by referring to the general enthusiasm shown from the Bluff onwards. , :. That enthusiasm showed the-patriotism of the people. TheiPremier .was heartily received;.' \ , .';.:■

, : '"'" : ' Tiniaru, February'2l'. Lord' Kitchener was- given: a:■ splendid reception ■ as ;he passed through here ; .tCK day. 'Accompanied by. the Prime .Minister,.: ho.wasescorted to.a specially ( ereoted dais .outside the station, and, there, cor-dially-welcomed', by the Mayor, who pre-. sented an. address and handsomely ■ got : up album, containing local views. The Field-' Marshal briefly, but suitably, acknowledged the hearty welcome"given'him, and 'expressed- the hope, that Now •. Zealand would ever remain as loyal'in her-sup-port: of the.Old Country as she bad been ;in'.the past. .He-made special reference to' the fact ; that '.Timaru' had organised in New Zealand a fund to supply , a. suitable addition to the furnishing of one of the ' battleships \of the. Navy.-' Lord : Kitchener was heartily '.cheered by tho .thousands who turned out-to see him,' the.welcome being'.very' enthusiastic. .' . THE WELLINGTON TROOPS, -ARRANGEMENTS NOW. COMPLETE. , Arrangements in- , connection with the inspection -of' the-(Wellington ;. troops,', by l;'ield-MarshalvLord';Kitehener\.at-.'the end , of; thcOcurrent week are now well ■ in- hand. , A.dotachment of the ■ Koyal- New Zealand Artillery, <urider ; ' Lieutenant Standish/ commeneed'.yesterday thetask.of pitching the tcnts' : for the , mobilisation .camp -at Johnsbnvillo; arid'-eXpect ..to have. everything ready .by to-morrow evening; ~:. •-.-■ ■ Yesterday ■ afternoon: the . - Government steamer Tutanekai, for the nonce a troopship, left for Greymouth.; After, embarking troops there, the steamer will return to.the capital via, Westport,and. Nelson, arriving here on Friday-with 550 odd men on board. • The,Ajahura-will bring over 100 cadets irom :Picton on Thursday, and will leave again for: a detachment of 170 men .from, Blenheim; \ who. will .reach ■ Wel- ( lington;on;.Friday.i '-'■ ■ ■'..,,■.,■■ ;-.,:'.;;;: .-„, '-~;'> '.-.'• Manning-the; Forts, i; :>v--. Lieut-Colonel G/F.C.-Campbell.vofficer , . commanding'.-the ; 'Wellington 'Garrison : Artillery Division, has completed :his arrangements for''the mobilisation of. the gunners at : the , forts, all of which'afeto be manned' under active service conditions duringf Thursday evening,;; Friday, and Saturday morning. . The-.Koyal New Zea:land Artillery s will proceed- to Mahanga ,Bay on Thursday, and at ?.3O p.m. on the .same'day the Wellington Navals and the .Electrio Light Corps will-,embark on the Janie Seddon, en : route for thov forts, while tho Potono Navals will man Fort Kelburne,".commanding the inner harbour. The U6ual camp routine will.be observed, and, in addition, the "examination service'". ,by a patrol : boat ~. will .be maintained under similar, conditions to : those, observed,,during., the. ■ Easter.■ man-, oouvres- of ;two years ago,'when..incoming steamers , were "held : up," ,; ''searched,"" . and given the "signal of ; the day." Lookouts .will be , posted, at-the .forts,.-;, and Everything prepared in readiness for ■an alarm. -Big-gun; shooting, will .likely, be ■carried out, the harbour authorities having been -warned to that effect. . i . It.is further- expected that some thirty ,or forty men of.the.Westport Garrison 'Artillery. Force will come up, to participate in the inspection by the Field-Mar-: shal: "Most of the gunners in, camp will, \it is anticipated, be able to attend dur■ing the.whole of Friday. In the case of those .unable i-to- get'away, leave, of absence.will be.granted:till the evening.- - :

;■;"'...■'..';: Staff 'Officers.; ,-; •■.;■■ .;,: Lieut.-Colonel Campbell's - staff. for the occasion "will- include- Majors Hume, E.N.ZiA!,. Courtney and. Meimes, N.Z.G.A.V., Captains , Symon. .and' 'Mickle, : E.N.Z.A 1 ., Lieut." Bevan, No. 1 Company Wellington G.A.V., Surgeon-Slajor' Martin, and Surgeon-Captains Gilmer and■Shand., ■■•'•".'-".-'■■•' ~: ,- '■ ■- V- '''■■ '' - : ."'■

(jidlonel J.: E. PurdyV Director. General of' Medical Service's, ■ has appointed Sur-. geo'n-Captains Cwberry, Holme, and Cook to the Brigade. Staff at Johnsbnville, ; in addition to the': field ambulanoe services' and such regimental surgeons as may be in '.attendance with' their respective units. Surgeon-Captain Oweiv' has' been detailed for duty with the Defence Cadets at Hhe Hutfc v Park. '• '•.-■•■' '■■ ' ■; ■"■ ''■■"'- . '. "•

■ Nothing 'definite' is'.yet knoirn" as to' what time-table of inspection will be observed .by! the : Keld-Marshal during. Friday. . The Garrison gunners are iii,hopes that their inspection will be ; carried out at , night.' ...... ;' . ' ■

'■■ The civic reception and .welcome will be held at Hie Town Hall at 4.30 ; on Friday! afternoon. , His Excellency the Governor and the Premier :.will be' present, and members of the Ministry ,and municipalities and- local bodies will also be present. Mr. Maughan Barnett' will play, an organ selection, and at'the close of the proceedings Mr. E. J. Hill will sing!,the National Anthem with orgtji accompaniment. The Mayor extends an invitation to citizens to bo present. '. ,:. ~ ~ . .r .