LORD KITCHENER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2743, 23 February 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER.

FLYING SURVEY AT LYTTELTON

rPEit Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH,• Feb. 22. Lord Kitchener this morning visited Lyttelton. /He was welcomed by the Mayor and Councillors on arrival. Then he went on a. tour of the harbor defences in the Harbor Board’s tug, contenting himself on this occasion with observing the guns and electric light station on the north side of the harbor., He was taken ashore, however, to the principal work, Fort Jervois, and there inspected 150 men under Lieutenant-Colonel Cooper. He made a thorough inspection of the fort armament. During the trip he made careful inquiries as to the soundings in various parts of the harbor. Lord Kitchener’s visit to Lyttelton was a veritable Hying survey. His only pause at the port was made to chat with a Crimean veteran on the wharf. He had timed every stage of the tour ; and it was evident that one secret of his capacity for business was the habit of using every minute, and ascertaining how long each journey would take. Ho made no comments for publication, but one brief remark of importance is reported. He wanted to know why the Lyttelton tunnel was not duplicated, to prevent the blocking of ordinary traffic. He said the tunnel would be useless in time of war. He inquired closely as to the time in which the Christchurch-Lyttelton trip could be made by motor-car.

CADET REVIEW AT CHRIST.

CHURCH

The. crowds at the Show grounds today, when the cadets were reviewed by Lord Kitchener, was of enormous dimensions, thousands pouring in by trams -all the afternoon until 3 o’clock. Round the gates the crush was very great, but a strong force of mounted rifles and cavalry kept order well, and the crowd was gob into position on the parade- ground in good style. On one section of the grounds, which is on Show days devoted to implements, the cadets were drawn up, th© bright uniforms and glint of arms making an imposing picture. There were some 2500 defence- and school cadets and scouts on parade.

As the Field Marshal drove on to the ground a few moments before 3 o’clock he was cheered most enthusiastically, and cheers were also given for the Premier. Lord Kitchener walked up from the grandstand to the saluting base accompanied by Colonels Robin, Collins, Tuson, and Hawkins. The parade stood at attention, and while the Garrison Band played Lord Kitchener inspected the cadets. The inspection commenced with senior and defence cadets, and then was extended to school cadets and scouts. The march past in line and column was most successfully carried out, and the general salute was given with admirable precision. The. parade state at the review was Staff 4, junior cadets, No. 1 battalion 304, No. 2 battalion 380, No. 5 battalion (scouts) 253; senior cadets, No. 1 battalion 383, No. 2 battalion 215, Burnham Band 20; total 2299. The following corps of defence cadets were on parade: Queen’s, Timaru High School, Christchurch Boys’ High School (Nos. 1 and 2), Christ’s College (Nos. 1 and 2), Technical College, Ashburton, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton, Garrison Artillery. The cadets’ review was the most interesting function of the kind held in Christchurch since the review before this Prince of Wales a few years ago. It afforded a unique display to the public and undoubtedly lias given a tremendous impetus to the. cadet movement in Canterbury. There was a good muster of veterans, 52 parading. T. B. Anderson, a Maori war veteran, was present. About half of those present were South African ex-troopers. There were, many New Zealanders and a number of Crimean veterans.

Volunteers from all parts of the district are assembling at the camp at ltnglev Park to-night in readiness for to-morrow’s review. It is understood that the volunteers now in camp in Hagley Park will be turned out very early to-morrow morning and marched to Prebbleton, about 10 miles distant from tile city. The first part of the. journey as far as Sock, burn, about six miles out, will be made by tram car, and the men will march the remainder of the distance. Major McDonald, commander of the New Zealand public school cadets, left for Wellington to-night to organise, the cadets there for Lord Kitchener’s visit.

THE JOHNSONVILLE GAMP. WANGANUI, Feb. 22. Throe hundred' and seventy cadets left by the mail train at noon to-day for Jobnsonville, in connection with Lord Kitchener’s visit. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22. The Government steamer Tutanekai left Wellington yesterday afternoon for Grey mouth, Westport, and Nelson,"to bring troops for the Kitchener camp at Jobnsonville, near "Wellington.