THE PRIME MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1912, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER.

BEFORE BKEAKEAST AUTENTURR

The Prime Minister very nearly provided Auckland with a sensation this morning. The Hon. Maokenzie arrived by the Main Trunk express, and had an hour to spare before leaving by the express for Helensville. Tempted by the warm sunshine and the quietude at that hour prevailing, the Prime Minister wandered about amongst the shipping, acquainting himself with the nature of the Harbour Board improvements, absorbing the beauty of the early morning scenes upon the Waitemata, and incidentally conversing with the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. T. Harle Giles), by whom he was accompanied. Deep in conversation as he returned along the new Queen-street wharf, the Prime Minister failed* to notice that the decks of the Ibig iWhite Star liner Zealandic represented a small hive of industry, and that she was busy discharging her cargo. So it was that while absorbed in the discussion of matters of moment, neither noticed that they had come within the danger zone. The Zealandic towers very high above the water line, and so there is some excuse for not having noticed that a couple of hundredweight of cargo was being rapidly lowered down upon them. A ship's officer, noticing their danger, called o.ut, but was not heard, and it was fori tunate that the descending slinc* missed them by inches, landing smartly B at their feet. As it was, the Prime Minister's burly frame was sent reeling backwards as the result of the very edge of the sling full of cargo (sacks of produce) catching him on the shoulder. His hat was 'knocked off his head, and his clothes showed the nature of the collision, his coat still bearing traces of the small before breakfast adventure when he boarded the express for Helensville. AT HELENSVILLE. (By Telesraph.—Own Correspondent.) HE-LENSVILLE, this day. The Premier was welcomed at Helensville by the chairman and members of the Town Board, and entertained at morning tea. After luncheon he laid the first pse of the Helensville drainage scheme, 'for which a £5000 loan has raised, Mr- H. Munro Wilson carrying out the work, consisting of about six miles of concrete sewer, with an outfall about a rpije below the town. Another £5000 has been raised for a water supply, v.-hich i≤ to be drawn from dams in the hills two miles from the town, th° water flowing in by gravitation. This afternoon the Premier drove to the Hot Springs, where he , opens the bowling green and receives deputations, while to-night he will address a public meeting.