WELCOME HOME

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4455, 22 May 1930, Page 3

WELCOME HOME

SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON. TBNAN TS ’ EXT! I LSI ASM. Sir Charles Fergusson and Lady Alice Fergusson have returned to their family seat at Kilkerran, Ayrshire. The homecoming is thus described by the Glasgow “Tieraid”:—

'The Fovgussons of Kilkerran are n much-loved family in Ayrshire, and Sir Charles’s homecoming was an event which those residing on the estate could not allow to pass without salutation. The railway officials entered into the scheme of things, and as the train hearing the seventh Baronet, of Kilkerran to his 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 waiting tenants to lusty eheevitigs. Gaily coloured bunting fluttered between Hie budding trees and the stationhouse. When Sir Charles, who was accompanied by Lady Alice Fevgussoii and their eldest son, Air. James Fergusson, stepped to the platform they were met by Air. James Curves, factor of flic estate; Afr. George Ale watt, overseer; Air. John Fergusson, gamekeeper; Air. John Grant, gardener; Colonel and Alt's. 1 fonldswoi'th, and the Rev. G. W, Walker, 'St. Ala - i liar’s Daillv. Lady Alice Fergusson was presented with a bouquet of Mowers by Margaret Brown, the seven-year-old daughter of the Kilkerran signalman. “Tn the course of a brief address Sir Charles Fergusson said it hardly seemed over five years since they went abroad, and Saturday was the day they had thought of and looked forward to ever since they had gone away. Now that the day had come, they were as happy as they could he to be back again in Ayrshire. “Nevertheless, they had had a happy time abroad. The people of New Zealand had made them feel :it home from the day on which they arrived in that, country. Many of Hie people there had gone from this country 50 or (if) 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 hail learned 1 heir language from their lathers and grandfathers in days gone by. When they talked of home they meant this country, and they wow* wonderfully loyal to the home country. “He could only say that they wore very happy to lie hack among Hie people of Ayrshire, and he hoped they would again have the old happy friendships that; had existed between Kilkerran, and the people around for generations past. (Applause). “Since the days of King Robert f. the Fergitssnns have been seated in Ayrshire. From that monarch, Fergus, sou of Fergus, obtained a charter of certain lands in lOnrriek, Ayrshire. Robert the Brace, as Ear] of Carrie.k, was a near neighbour iiis castle of Turnberry being only about, seven miles from Kilkerran.”