LORD KITCHENER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 318, 18 February 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER

ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND QUIET AND UNPRETENTIOUS LANDING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. '"' luveivargill, Last Niglit. 11.11.5. Encounter with Lord Kitchener aboard, did not arrive at the Bluff till the afternoon. The lauding was a quiet and unpretentious affair, and nothing of importance happened. Sir Joseph Ward, Colonels Robin, (Tollins and Tuson, boarded the ship and shook hands with Lord Kitchener. The Mayor of Campbelltown read a h'hort address of welcome. Lord Kitchener very briefly acknowledged the address and expressed his pleasure at being in Now Zealand. At Invercargill another address was read and another brief reply made. Lord Kitchener inspected the veterans and volunteers drawn up to receive him, and shook hands with a number of Maoris, who danced a haka. Then Lord Kitchener went on to Dunedin. Dunedin, Last Night. Lord Kitchener arrived here this evening, accompanied by his' aide do camp and Chief of Staff, the Prime Minister and members of the Defence Council, who met him at Bluff, and was accorded a hearty welcome by' very large crowds which thronged the streets as he drove to the Fernhill Club. Throughout the train journey fr m Invercargill Lord Kitchener was accorded an enthusiastic welcome at every station, and was presented with several addresses. The Dunedin station was closed to the general public for the reception of the distinguished visitor, and' on his stepping from the train he was welcomed by tho Mayor (Mr. J. H Walker) in a few formal words, to which Lord Kitchener replied very ■briefly. He mentioned the fact that his father had owned property in the neighborhood, and his brother had also lieen for some years in the district. His sister (Mrs Parker, of Kurow, North Otago) met him on tne station. I After the reception, Lord Kitchener entered an open carriage, and with a military escort of detachments of the Otago Hussars, Dunedin Engineers and the Garrison Band, drove slowly to headquarters. Great interest is being taken in the military manoeuvres. At present there are camped at the Heads the Dunedin Navals, the Port Chalmers Xavals, and such of the permanent artillery as are located here. Upon these, at any time 'between midnight of Thursday and midnight of Friday, Lord Kitchener may work his will in the way of surprise orders. Further, between midnight of Friday and midnight of Saturday, 2000 volunteers from all over Otago, who will be camped at Burnside, will be subjected to test orders. To-morrow afternoon there will be a big review of the whole of the cadets of the district. A BUNGLE. • PRIME MINISTER SLIGHTED.

Dunedin, Last Night. • To the great astonishment of the crowds of people who thronged the streets to welcome Lord Kitchener to Dunedin, the Prime Minister (Sir .Joseph Ward), who had arrived with ihe the great soldier from the South, was not given a seat in anv carriage which ■passed in the procession through the .town. It was subsequently learned that .apparently no provision had been made for Sir Joseph taking part in the procession and after carriages left the railway station, he proceeded to the Grand Hotel by motor car. There is little doubt that such a slight on the Prime Minister was quite unintentional, and due to bungling on the part of someone responsible for the arrangements made at the railwav station.

The following are the train arrangements in connection with the conveyance of'Taranaki troops to the Kitchener camp, which is to be held at Johnsonville:—A special train will leave New Plymouth at 7.15 p.m. on Thursday next, and will arrive at Johnsonville at 7.26 a.m. on the following day. This train will hring, according to present estimate's, 21 officers and 242 men from New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood, Stratford and Elthain, A special train will leave Hawera at 815 a.m. on February 25th, taking about 17 officers and 197 men from Hawera, Patea, and Waverley. It is due at Johnsonville at 8.55 p.m. the same day. All the country troops will entrain for the return journey on Sunday, February 27th. Special trains will leave Johnsonville for New Plymouth at 0.25 a.m. and for Hawera at 7 a.m. The oaiTHs from Taranaki, as reported previously, will be conveyed by a train leaving New Plymouth at fl a.m. on the 23rd, and arriving at the Hutt at 10 p.m.. picking up cadets at various stations as far as Marton.