LORD KITCHENER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14299, 19 February 1910, Page 8

LORD KITCHENER.

REVIEW OF CADETS.

A REGRETTABLE INCIDENT.

CROWD RUSH SALUTING POINT.

[Nx TELKGRArH.—ratss association-.]

Dnxsncf, Friday. Thk defence works at- Taiaroa Heads wer-J this morning inspected by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener. Nos. 1 and 2 Companies N.Z.G.A.Y., comprising 105 officers and men, and the R.N.Z.R., comprising 32 Permanent Artillery men, went into camp there on Thursday night, and by 10.30 p.m. rhe five guns in use were manned,, and the port, to all intents and purposes, was sealed and under surveillance. Lord Kitchener did not arrive until 10 o'clock this' morning. H-> was accompanied b- Sir Joseph Ward, Colonel Kirkpatrick {Lord Kitcheners chief of staff), Colonels Robin. Collins, and Tuson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Smyth, officer commanding the Otago district.

The inspection commenced at the enginehouse, where electric power for the searchlight » generated, and Lieuteoant-Colom-1 Allen, commanding the Garrison Artillery, nest led the way to the searchlight itself and then to the. six-pounder qnick-firiug gun. which represents the Harrington Point battery. The party then made its way to the heads, and an ascent was made to the fire-commanding station. Here there is a 6in disappearing gun, the most modern weapon at the heads, but- Lord Kitchener merely locked at the site. The 64-pounder on Howlett Point he treated similarly- He also bad pointed out to him. the location of two new 12-pbunders shortly to be erected. Lord Kitchener seemed to devote the whole of his attention to the men comprising he Garrison Artillerv, and ho expressed himself quite enthusiastically as he walked along the lines. He took notice 1 .if the medals and service badges on the breasts of several men. and in a kindly w*y inquired what they were for. The New Zealand 12-year long-service medal seemed to have caught his fancy. He had never seen it before, and, turning to Sir Joseph Ward, told him lie would like to have one of them. "Fine-looking men" was his comment on more than one occasion. The medical section of the Otago TJniversity Officers" Training Corps, which was present, deeply interested him. On the whole the inspection did not last more than an hour

Chi reaching Port Chalmers Lord Kitchener was shown the new dock, and then, on stepping ashore, was received by the boys of the training-ship Amokura, who formed a guard of honour. He asked the officer in charge all about them, and then addressed a few words of encouragement to them, telling them he was pleased to have seen them and that they were a fine, healthy-looking lot. He then left by motor car for Dunedin, which, was reached about one o'clock. The public flocked to Forbury Park this afternoon to witness the review of the school cadets, boy scouts, and veterans by Lord Kitchener. The weather was threatening at times, but it held up well. The attend- ! ance numbered about 10,000. The cadets I and scouts were drawn up in line of bat- ! talion quarter column, a portion of the j fourth battalion occupying the centre. The line was about 500 yards long, and was an imposing 'spectacle. About three o'clock [ Lord Kitchener, accompanied by Colonel [Kirkpatrick, arrived. The Field-Marshal j. spent half an hour in reviewing the cadets j and scouts, and be then inspected the veteI rans, In whom he displayed more than ordinary interest. 'V' ,> h . I The next part of the programme was the | march past taking up their position at the saluting point, Lord Kitchener and his party j soon found themselves surrounded by an I ever-growing^mass of people, -who .poured | into the review ground from ail points. This ! was a most regrettable proceeding. The police did their best to stem the tide, but were powerless, with the ; result that the march past completely lost its value. Each ; company was visible to Lord Kitchener for I a distance of only about 40 yards as they : approached and passed on. It was impossible, owing to the crush on the ground, to carry cut the next item, the march past in review order, this being a great disappointment to the boys and a large section of the public. Then ensued a wild scramble, which was happily of short duration. At the con- ! clusion of the march past. Lord Kitchener i and his party walked towards the I grand stand. Men;, women, and children j hustled, or; were bustled after them, and i in the commotion children were■knocked I over and women ecreamed, but etill the i crowd surged on. It was a disgraceful I eceue, and the seaceless rueh was only •stopped by the crowd reaching the limits of the enclosure. There were 2643 boys on parade, comprising 68 companies, from all over Otago- The presentation' of colours to the Boys' High School cadets took place , though the success of the function was marred by - the disorderly proceeding. It appears that the muddle was due to the fact that there was no definite authority to make all arrangements. The City Corporation issued tickets for the grandstand and enclosure, and notified the course of events to the public, but tie responsibility for the administration was thrown oh the Defence authorities. The military authorities state thai at a meeting of the Reception Committee it was decided that as no troops would be available for the afternoon, the police be asked to adrift. Last night the police were asked, on' behalf of the Mayor, to assist in superintending the entrances to the grandstands ax*d the gates leading to the inner enclosures, but they were not. asked to perform any duty in connection with the parade ground. Nearly 2000 men are in cam? in the vicinity of Abotsford, awaiting Lord Kitchener's orders in regard to manoeuvres. .