SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1930, Page 2

SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON

AN ALSiUTEHTHSHT AN AYRSHIRE WELCOME. LONDON, April 10. Sir Charles Fergusson and Lady Alice Fergusson returned to their family seat the Rilke: Tan, Ayrshire, on -Inturday. The . homecoming is thus described, by the “Glasgow Herald. The Fergussons, df Kilkerran, are a much-loved family in Ayrshire, and Sir Charles’s homecoming was an event which those residing on the estate eoul dnot allow to pass without salutation.

The railway officials entered into the scheme of things, and as the train bearing the seventh Baronet of K.ilkerran to Ids family seat approached the lazy little station the explosions of a series of fog signals sent the sheep scurrying from their grazing in nearby fields and roused the wntiing tenants to lusty cheering. Gaily-coloured hunting fluttered between the budding trees and tbe station-house. When Sir Charles, who was aoeompam'ed by Lady Alice Fergusson and their eldest son, Mi 1 Janies Fergusson, stepnnd to the platform they were m°t by Air James Purves. factor of the estate : Air George Afowatt, overseer, Mr John Ferguson, gamekeeper, Ah T,,p n Grpnt, gardener. Colonel e ll d Mrs TToiddsworth and the Rev. G. AY. AYalker. St. ATacliar’s Dailly. Ladv Alice Fergus sou was presented with a I'ouq.uet of flowers by Afnrgaret Brown, P-.o seven- vear-nhl daughter of the Kilkerran signalman.

ODD FA All LIAR NAAfES

In the ctuirse of a brief address. Sir Charles said it hardly seemed over five years since they went abroad, and Saturday was tlu> day they bad thought of and looked forward to ever s nee iliev bad gone away. Now that the day had come, they were Us happy as they could lie to he back' again in Ayrshire'.

Nevertheless, they had had a happy line abroad. The people ol New Zealand had made them feel at home from tln> day on which they arrived in that country. Many of the-people there had gone from this country 59 or GO

years ago. One found there the old familiar names of people who talked in older and broader Scots than the people of Ayrshire did now. Yet those people had never been out of New Zealand. They had learned ther language from their fathers and grandfathers in days gone by. When they talked of Home they meant this country, and they were wonderfully loval at the Home country.

He could only say that they were very happy to be back among the people of Ayrshire and he hoped they would again have the old happy friendships that had existed between Tvilkerran and the people around for generations past. (Applause.) Siime the days of King Robert I the Fergussons have been seated in Ayrshire. From that monarch, Fergus, son df Fergus, obtaneid a charter of certain lands in Carrick, Ayrshire. Robert Bruce, as Earl of Carrick was a near neighbour his castle of Turnberrv being about seven miles only from Kilkerran.