THE FIELD-MARSHAL'S DEPARTURE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 753, 28 February 1910, Page 6

THE FIELD-MARSHAL'S DEPARTURE.

.'.,. Quite a crowd collected at Thorndon Station yesterday .afternoon to 'see'.the' last^.of. the distinguished'-spiSier. ..- The general public were.'excluded from the station platform, .only,, a .privileged few allowed .to-'witness, tho entrainment of the 'staff. Shortly- after' 2 p.m. the special train backed into the station, and several loads .of- baggage ■ came rumbling down the platform. • Then a oheer :was ,heard"oiitside and!a -.few.',seconds later, Lord Kitchener, in civilian attire, came on to the platform, followed by Colonel '.Kirkpatrick. /He. stood 'in conversation :for some' minutes/.to~ the small party, which had come down to see him off, and ;was introduced by the "Prime Minister 'to' several people. Sir Joseph/ Ward arid' the members of the New' Zealand Council. of. Defence also travelled ' north' by the special, which'left punctually at 2.15 p.m. Aa enterprising photographer

vainly endeavoured to secure a snapshot of Lord Kitchener as he stood on the platform, but that exceedingly difficult subject for camera men promptly turned his back, and everybody laughed at the photographer's discomfiture. The Hon. G. Fowlds; and the Hon. J. A. "Millar were, also present to farewell the. FieldMarshal. -Colonel Collins did not go north as he , takes. up ; his. new duties as Auditor-General to-morrow. When taking leave of Lord Kitchener, ho handed the. latter a copy-of the programme for the ' 1910 championship ' rifle meeting, handsomely: bound in,'leather, and stamped:with the recipients','monogram. Then .the ball rang, the people drew back, and amid'ringing cheers', the train pulled'slowly out. on'its long journey to the northern city. ' The party stayed. at Taihape-overnight, in order, to see the country by daylight. Lord Kitchener is expected to .leave Auckland for Sydney on Thursday next. It,is rumoured that' he may return' to New Zealand for a fortnight, which he ;will spend with his sister in the.south. This, ihowover. lacks confirmation. ■ ' ...