GENERAL BOOTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1472, 21 June 1912, Page 7

GENERAL BOOTH.

BLINDNESS WILL BE PERMANENT. (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Christchurch, Juno 20. ■ Commissioner Richards, w.ho has come to take command of the Salvation Army in this province, arrived at Lytteltoil from,the north this morning. Tho,commissioner' was accorded a civic reception at Lyttelton and Christch.meh.

In tho course of an interview, Commissioner Richards said just before he left England he had an interview with- General Booth, who was then about to undergo an operation on his eye. "When ho came .to Africa." said Commissioner Richards, "tho cataract on one eyeball had formed completely, but the other was just commencing to show. He returned to England, mid there an. operation was successfully performed on the eye on which the cataract was. ripe. Later he went on a motor tour in England, but neglected to wear goggles. A fly got into the eye, ami septic poisoning set iii, with the result that tho eye had to be removed. Then a cataract formed on the other eye, but the operation has been unsuccessful. When I saw the General ho was cheerful, and was looking forward to a visit to Australia and New Zealand. He remarked jocularly that he hoped to see the Now Zealanders. General Booth has a warm spot for New- Zealand, and Jie gave, me special directions to give his love (o the pcoplo of the Dominion. For some time before tho last operation he could not distinguish people, but could only detect shades. Tho failure of the. operation means, of course, that blindness will be permanent.'"