THE PREMIER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11525, 6 March 1903, Page 2

THE PREMIER.

VISIT TO THE CULVERDEN SHEEP SALE.

The Premier, who is staying: with Mr Duncan Rutherford at Leslie Hills, visiteit the Culvcrdea sheen sale yesterday, and was shown round by Mr A. W. Rutherford, M.H.R., and Mr Duncan Rutherford. Talking wit-a a "Press" representative yesterday, Mr Seddon said that h» was delighted to find such a substantial improvement in the condition of th.B district, since he visited Culverden some t<?n years ago. At that time about 65,000 sheep were passed through, but, although only the. «me number wag entered at this year's sale, the cheep were of a far better quality, and there was a big difference in the prices obtained, lamba this year going at 14s 9d, and sheep at over £1. Concerning the Highfleld Estate- purchase. Mr Seddon stated that the Government had bought 31.000 acres of the estate, ata price" wcM within the valuer's price. T3w purchase .had given general satisfaction, and the estate would be cut up and offered for .-settlement an soon as possible.

It will be remembered that some time osro tlw? Parnaeww Estate, just north of the Wai-au River, was offered to the Government, but so far nothing bus come of it. Mr Soddon has already seen the estate from the Cheviot side, but it was not till Wednesday, when he drove through from Mi-ndip Hills to Waiau, that, ha Raw *he back of tho estate. When asked his opinion as to what he thought of the section of Parnassus he had just seen. Mr Spddon said that he liked the land much butter on the Mendip Ride than on the Cheviot side, and that portion of the estate contained sonro good country. The Premier affirms that his tour is purely a private and holiday one, and ho prides 'himsoif o-n the fnct that «o far 'he has delivered no speeches, nddinjr that he did not intend to deliver any. The Hanmer Springs people, however, have been making extensive preparations for the visit of Mr Seiidon on Friday, and they nre certainly expecting a speech. It is proposed to bring before Mr Seddon, while he is at HanmxT, several questions relating to the Springs. At Culvcrtlen ye-terday Mr Seddon visited the. school, and, after delivering an address to the children, granted ■ them a ■holiday. An epidemic of school holidays has been following in the Premier's walAever since he left Blenheim, and the name of Mr Seadon in consequence is being regarded by the different school children with particular affection.

Mr W. H. Zcuch, Inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had an interview at Culverden with Mr Seddon on tha question of a subsidy to tlw Society. Messrs Rutherford and Witty. M.H.R.'e, who were present, advocated the interests of the Society.

The Premier asked to have a. full state-' ment of the mattso , sent to him in letter form, ar.d ha ■would give it every consideration. He always considered the- objects of the. Society of a. moot, worthy character, and would be prepaa'od to give the present request*'due ccneidt ration, to encourage tha contributions of the peoplo who desired to protect dumb animals. Ah , Seddon returned to (Leslie- Hil"* last night, and. will journey to Hamner Springs this morning , .