RETURN OF LORD ROBERTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11933, 5 January 1901, Page 7

RETURN OF LORD ROBERTS.

THE HONOURS CONFERRED ON ■HIM. LONDON, January 3. (Received Jan. 4, at 8.56 a.m.) The Duke of Connaughi; and Princess Henry of Battenburg, representing the Queen, welcomed Lord Roberts on his landing at Cowes, and accompanied him to Osborne, where he had a long private audience with the Queen. Her Majesty has conferred upon him the Order of the Garter and raised him to the rank of an earl, with the right of succession in his daughters. Lord Roberts, replying to the mayoral address of welcome and congratulation, reiterated his implicit confidence in Lord Kitchener, whose task in South Africa was, he said, surrounded with difficulties owing to the marvellous mobility of the Boers and vastness and barrenness of the country. Nevertheless, the end was certain, if the Boers were only clearly assured of Great Britain's determination not to allow the results of the war to be thrown away. He was proud to have commanded such a magnificent army of the soldiers of Great Britain and Greater Britain. They had pulled together like brothers. The Empire need fear no outward foe while we were careful not to neglect any weak points in our armour. LORD ROBERTS IN LONDON. LONDON, January 3. (Received Jan. 4, at 11.36 a.m.) Lord Roberts has arrived in London. He had a splendid welcome, 14,000 troops lining the streets from Paddington station to Buckingham Pnlace.