PRESENTATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 9

PRESENTATIONS.

Messrs T. J. Beresford, J. Thompson (Christchurch), T. Foster (Papanui), and T. Coulter (Islington), old acquaintances of-the Earl of Erne, met his son, Viscount Crichton, by appointment in the Christchurch Club prior to his departure with the Duke and Duchess of -Cornwall and York. Mr Beresford apologised for two other gentlemen, one from Rakaia and one from Rangiora, who wished to, but could not conveniently attend, and on 'their behalf and those present accorded him a hearty and loyal welcome to Christchurch. They were sorry his visit was so short, but hoped it would be the more pleasant. He presented Viscount Crichton with a travelling rug made at the Wellington Woollen Mills, aa a specimen of colonial industry, and for utility and design it would be hard 1 to beat anywhere in the Old Country. Viscount Crichton, in reply, thanked them heartily' for the gift, and said it touched him much to meet wherever he went in the colonies a f man hailing from in or near County Fermanagh, and to hear , him speak so kindly of his father. Ho was delighted l with, his visit to the Maoris, and thought many of his own countrymen might learn a lesson from them an loyalty and courtesy. Until he came to - Canterbury he had small reason to speak about our fine climate, and he had heard much v about our agricultural land, which he expected to see on hia way to Dunedin. Being a lover of horses, he had visited Mr Stead’s stud, and he spoke highly of the beautiful animals he had seen there, as well ns some good specimens with the troops. It was a great pleasure to him to see from one end of the colony to the other the people so eminently loyal and prosperous. The talk then assumed a more private nature concerning events in the Old Country, and the hosts left wishing Viscount Crichton a safe return, and asking him to convey their respects to his lordship his father.