PROBABLE VISIT FROM LORD

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 30

PROBABLE VISIT FROM LORD

ROBERTS. CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS BIRTHDAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 23.

-A. letter, in reply to the invitation sent by the Government to Lord Roberts to visit New Zealand, has ibeen received by the Premier. It is dated July 22, from the headquarters of the army in South Africa at Pretoria, and reads as follows : — •

■' Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of a memorandum, dated Auckland, May I,' 1800, which you submitted to the Governor of New Zealand, and which his Excellency ihas forwaided to me. In that memorandum you invite Lsdy Roberts and myself in the most cordisl manner to visit New Zealand, and be the guests of your colony. I can assure you that if an opportunity offers we shall avail ourselves of yotu 1 kindness with the very greatest pleasure, and I beg that you will accept yourself, and tender to your colleagues and the people of New Zealand, our grateful thanks for your kindly proffered hospitality, -n hich we appreciate, not only on account 'of the Mghly complimentary terms in which your ■proposal has been conveyed to us, but also because it has long been our desire to visit New Zealand. This desire has been materially strengthened of late 'by the opportunity we have had of meeting the Grave and capable soldiers who have come to South Africa from .New Zealand to fight for those principles oi libeiiry and justice on which the very existence of our Empire defends. — Believe me to be, yours sincerely, Xo berts.' 3 ' - "' In response to a suggestion from Mr (Monk, the Premier sold he would, if members generally agreed, send a congratulatory telegram to Lord Roberts on his birthday, the anniversary of which falls on Sunday.