GENERAL RICHARDSON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1642, 20 May 1919, Page 9

GENERAL RICHARDSON.

ARRIVES IN CITY. A QUIET WELCOME. Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, C.8., 0.M.G., who recently returned to the Dominion was a passenger from "Wellington by the Monowai, which arrived at Lyttelton at 1.30 p.m. to-day. As no official word was received of . General Richardson's movements, it was ? impossible to arrange for a public reception to-day. However, the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. J.. W. Beanland), in the absence of Dr Thacker, who is in Wellington, j met the ferry train at the Christchur.ch Railway Station, in company with Mr N. B. McCallum, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr W. E. Leadley, the secretary, Colonel R. A. Chaffey (O.C. Canterbury Military Dis- . triet), Colonel G. J. Smith, Colonel C. J. Cooper, Major V. Leeming, M.C., and Mr J. J. Dougall. The welcome was a quiet one, the party greeting General Richardson in a ' railway carriage. In reply to a quesf tion from the Deputy-Mayor as to . whether he would consent to. a civic reception, General Riehardson asked whether it was absolutely expected of him. "I am a soldier, you know," he said, "and wo don't usually look for that sort of thing." "Tho people want to meet you," said Cr Beanland. "Well, if it's to tell your citizens how much we appreciate the work they have done in providing for the comfort . of the men at the front I'll gladly con- : BJnt," was the reply. "I would like to tell them officially if it has not been already done, how valuable their work has been." The reception was fixed for 12.30 p.m. to-morrow in the City Council fcers.In reply to questions, General Richardson stated he would remain in the city about two days and would then go on to Dunedin. He was taking charge of tho administrative side of the Defence Department at the end of tho month, and he wanted to look round first. In reply to an invitation he stated that, lie would have much pleasure in meeting the members of the Returned Soldiors' Association.