SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7913, 29 September 1909, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

Per Press. Association. AUCKLAND, September 28. , H.M.S. Challenger, conveying Sir Joseph Ward, will arriye m Auckland at 1 p.m. on Thursday, and the landing will probably take place at three o'clock. In the military parade from the man-o'-war steps, 900 Cadets and 500 Volunteers are expected to take part. Veterans under Captain Archer will form a guard of honour at the landing stage, and: several bands will^ be m attendance. The landing-stage will be decorated by • the Harbour Board, and Sir Joseph Ward, on arrival at the man-'o'-war r steps, will be received by the Mayor (Mr C. D. Grey) and the chairman of the Harbour Board (the Hon. E. Mitchelson). The citizens will present the following address of welcome: To the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G., Prime Minister of New Zealand. Dear: Sir,—The citizens of Auckland deem it a fortunate circumstance that they are afforded the honour and privilege of being the first to welcome you upon your return to New Zealand from the Imperial Defence Conference.

Several months ago, when anxiety was freely expressed m. Great Britain with, regard to the naval defence of the Empire, you interpreted, aright the loyal feelings of the people, of this dominion by promptly declaring our readiness to sharp m the growing burden of Imperial responsibilities. _ Your action, conceived m a spirit of patriotism, was welcomed, both here and 'm the Home Country, with an enthusiasm m which men of all shades | of political opinion shared. Its moral effect was worth far more to Great Britain than any imaginable contribution m ships or money or men. It gave a lead which was taken up by Canada, Australia andi the other great colonies, and the profound impression it created m the Home Country was eloquently expressed by Mr Asquith (Prime Minister) and Mr Balfour (leader of the Opposition m the Imperial Parliament) when presenting to you the original signatures attached to the congratulatory cable sent to New Zealand by four hundred members of the House of "Commons.

"The people of Great Britain and Ireland," said Mr Asquith, "will never forget that splendid and' %<sluntary manifestation of cordialitSfflljjalty and affection on the part of New Zealand" ; while Mr Balfour was no less emphatic m describing the offer as "an epochmaking occurrence. .... an incident which will be looked back to -m future generations, at any moment m which our great Imperial interests may be m danger, as showing how, by spontoneous action, the great' self-governing dominions of the King came forward on their own initiative, at once, without discussion, by an immediate inspirnton, as it were, as to what was required of them by the public necessities cf the Empire, and gave a gift, generous and almost beyond computation m relation to their means, to the common object of Imperial defence."

These two foremost British statesmen so admirably interpreted the spirit that set m motion this great wave of Imperial sentiment, and so strongly emphasised the value of New Zealand's offer that no words of ours could demonstrate more impressively the great service which you rendered to the Empire as a whole.

We also desire to express our appreciation of the distinguished ability with which you have represented the patriotic aspirations of New Zealanders at the recent great council of British ] statesmen. These eminent services we deem worthy of the gratitude of every i loyal'subject of the Crown. ( With cordial good wishes for yourself and Lady Ward, Signed on behalf of the' people of Auckland •

It is not generally known that Mr Chamberlain once . appeared m the role of dramatist. * This was a good many years ago, and m those days he had a strong taste for amateur theatricals, m which lie played more than once with marked success. For one performance he wrote a one-act play entitled "Who's Who,'? m :which he himself performed the part of a Frenchman. He is also said to have written a three-act modern comedy of political life, but no amount of money will persuade him to give the worid this unacted piece.