THE PREMIER'S RUSH ROUND THE WORLD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7915, 1 October 1909, Page 4

THE PREMIER'S RUSH ROUND THE WORLD.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 30. Sir Joseph "Ward, m the course of an interview, said that, leaving New Zealand on June 18, he had m the phort space of one hundred and two days encircled the globe. Out of that period twenty-six days had been spent m (London, and the balance m travel. There had been no stop on the road Home from the day of his arrival m Sydney until joining the train m Marseilles for Calais, immediately after the arrival; of the steamer there, and, indeed, until his arrival m London. It had been an unbroken travel. The work connected with the Conference was completed only late on the evening :df August 20, ~ and the following morning at ten o'clock he left by train to; join the steamer Carmania at Liverpool,' sailing that afternoon for New York. He spent one day m Montreal, to. meet by appointment the British Ambassador to America, . who Had travelled a very long distance through America to see him. Then a ■couple of days were spent at Ottawa, where an opportunity was afforded of discussing public matters with Sir Wilfrid Laurier. On the road. to Vancouver a stay of one night was made at Niagara Falls, this being the only diversion, and that for a short period of three hours only, m the whole journey from the beginning of the trip until its completion. 1 The greatest interest was taken m the representation of New Zealand, and many courtesies were extended to him. This Sir Joseph naturally took -as a ciJmpliment to the people of New J Zealand, expressed through himself. Updn arrival at Fiji, a short stay of; a couple of hours only was made, and the party then joined the Challenger, an immediate start being made for New Zealand. Every effort was made by Sir Joseph to get back earlier, but the work of the Conference rendered it impossible for him to leave London sooner than he did.