THE RETURN OF MR WASON, M.H.R.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10387, 3 July 1899, Page 5

THE RETURN OF MR WASON, M.H.R.

♦" [By Telegraph.] (fbom ottk special correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 2. Mr Wason, member for Selwyn, who has been on a visit to Great Britain and the Continent, returned to New Zealand by the Mokoia to-day. Hβ has come via Adelaide and Sydney, at a very rapid rate, in order to get back to his legislative duties at the earliest possible moment. Indeed, his trip from Adelaide to New Zealand via Sydney must be almost a record one in point of time, for it occupied only a wesk. Mr Wason travelled overland to Sydney and left Mrs Wason to coma on by steamer, and she will return from Sydney in the Waikare due at Auckland on Friday. Mr and Mrs Wason were accompanied on the voyage out by their niece, Miss Holland, who will stay some months in New Zealand. They returned from London* via Paris, Rome and Naples, joining the German liner Oldenberg at the last-named port, and but for an accident to the engine, -which detained the steamer seven days, Mr Wason would have been hers at the commencement of the session. In a conversation I had -with Mr Wason shortly after his arrival, he informed mc that he had a delightful trip, though he had been very ill in Edinburgh. He could not help being struck with, the splendid air of prosperity noticeable in the old country. When he left the people were all very full of the fight over the Transvaal question, and the Government had increased in popularity in consequence of the firmness of their attitude in regard to it. In Paris Mr Wason attended a debate in the Chamber- of Deputies when the resignation of M; de Preycinet, late Minister for War, was under consideration. He states that it was a most interesting experience, the members of the Chamber becoming wildly excited during the debate. The Dreyfus question was still agitating the minds of politicians, but the people themselves were becoming eick'of it. Without taking sides either for or against Dreyfus, lihey recognised that Prance had behaved shamefully, and that the whole business was nothing (short of a national disgrace. On his' way back Mr Wason took the opportunity of visiting the colonial Parliaments in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. / ___________