LORD KITCHENER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 817, 26 February 1910, Page 2

LORD KITCHENER.

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON,

Lord Kitchener arrived at Wellington on Thursday morning.

He was welcomed by the Prime Minister, who introduced him to the Mayor, Councillors, Members of Parliament, military officers, etc. Directly the introductions were over Lord Kitchener turned to the Premier and said before any speeches could be made: “Now we go off to the Club, I suppose.” He promptly went to his carriage, and with the Prime Minister, the Mayor and Colonel Kirkpatrick drove rapidly to the Club, the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles forming an escort. The municipal authorities had been much exercised over the “order of procession ” during the week but Eord Kitchener settled that himself very differently and there was a hurried rush for the carriages in an effort to get near the flying leaders. A salute of 19 guns was fired.

The Town Hall was packed in the afternoon for the Mayoral reception to Eord Kitchener. Altogether about five thousand attended.

Eord Kitchener arrived at 4.30 accompanied by his Excellency Eord Plunket, Sir Joseph Ward and others.

The Mayor, Dr. Newman, delivered a brief speech of welcome and was followed by his Excellency the Governor and Sir Joseph Ward, both of whom referred to the important nature of Eord Kitchener’s visit.

In reply, Lord Kitchener said it was a great satisfaction to him to visit the capital of New Zealand. Wherever he had been in the Dominion he had been impressed by the enthusiasm displayed on the question of maintaining an efficient defence force. He trusted the measures about to be undertaken by the Government would fulfil national requirements. No one who visited this country could doubt the deep-seated and warmhearted loyalty of its inhabitants.