Hamilton's Farewell.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 37, 5 June 1914, Page 5

Hamilton's Farewell.

EXCLUDE THE SERPENTS! FROM THE EARTHLY PARADISE [Per Press Association.] Wellington, June 4. Asked by a Post reporter shortly before bis departure whether he had any farewell message to give to the New Zealand people and to the New Zealand army, General Sir lan Hamilton said ho should be glad to avail himself of the opportunity. ‘T think,” he said, “New Zealand is an eartldy paradise, and all the people have to do is to take the necessary measures to exclude the serpents. They will know best what I mean by that and there is really little more,” he said. “I have done over 3000 miles in New Zealand itself, and much of the wonderful kindness I have received I have been able to trace back to my comrades of the South African war. It is they who have taken the lead, in strewing my arduous path with roses of welcome. To them especially I would now wish to pay my small tribute of grateful recognition. As to the New Zealand army,” concluded the General, “they will probably see my report in due course, and I hope they will realise when they do that I tried to live vp to their repeated exhortations to me to speak the truth and sham© the devil only I have tried to do it nicely.”