COLONEL PORTER’S HOMECOMING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 570, 14 November 1902, Page 3

COLONEL PORTER’S HOMECOMING.

, ht WELCOME BY CITIZENS. ty A largo number of citizens attended at ia l the Borough Council Chambers yesterday, , c j. to extend a welcome to Colonel Porter, C.l!„ on his return from South Africa. cs ilia Worship the Mayor presided. Apologies for absence wore received from Messrs DeLuutour, Kennedy, and u . others. After having welcomed Colonel Porter i t back to Gisborne, the Mayor referred to [ r the Colonel’s connection with the Seventh Contingent, which bad gained such renown jt at Botiiasberg. Colonel Porter had, he IS said, always been ut tho front of affairs in 0 Gisborne, and had performed good service .. in the early days in protecting tho lives and property of settlers, and in returning j] from South Africa he would say, on behalf of the people of the district, that,they wero all proud of him. Mr Jas. Macfarlane said that for a man j. of Colonel Porter’s age to go to South e Africa an 1 undergo tho rigors of tho campaign was very creditable. All the New Zealand contingents were good ones, but the Seventh had seen more lighting and service than the others. Captain Ferris, as a comrade of Colonel Porter’s so far back as lfjOif, also addressed i tho meeting. j ' Colonel Porter, who was received with i loud upplau-e, i.aiu in was appealing ; before them us a soldier rather than n citizen, and it was i.fieu unbecoming for a soldier to make a -pi cell as mi.-iakes were often made. Therefore he would not say much, but bo felt gratified at the seuti incuts expressed by previous speakers. Me find not expect! d any reception, and hud not hoaid anything about it until he reached Napier. Tne.y wore all aware of the high position held by New Zealand contingents. He being un elderly officer, the Imperial officers wouid often converse confidentially to him where they would not have done to younger men. Confidentially ho was told that the Now Zenlaud men wero always to be relied on, and had not loft their officers in tho field as happened in other cases. The Now Zealanders could always look after themselves in tho field, and their good name for steadiness - and reliability was thoroughly deserved. The 7th Contingent hud exceptional advantages, but Lord Kitchener, in reply to a tv in hi k from ihe speaker that he thuught his men wore getting too much work, had said : 11 1 know when I have got good men, and you will always bo in the field.” The Gisborne men had behaved splendidly’ and Sergeant Darling had done sorvica which merited the Cross. Colonol Porter - went on to refer to his leaving for England in command of the Coronation Contingent, and stated that the Premier was well received in South Africa on account f of his good name and the high standing of - New Zealand generally. Whilo in Eng- _ land Colonel Porter stated ho was the v senior officor of tho officers in charge of i' tho whole of tho contingents in London, p They were feted everywhere, and he was proud to say his men had behaved like gentlemen. So good were their conduct c that ho was askod what they were in Now Zculand, and ho had ropiicd, “ Oh, they are gentlemen.” (Hear, hear.) 110 bad been asked many questions about Gisborne while in England, and he had been high in - its praise for prottincss and prosperity. Ho regretted that ins duties as a military officor would compel him to rcsido else- n where for a time, ns Gisborne was his J home. Ho heartily reciprocated tho kindly feolingof his old friends present, and \\ was glad to be with them again. j c Cbeors wero given for Colonel Porter and family, and the mooting terminated.