ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14051, 24 May 1911, Page 10

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIONS.

(fbom our own correspondent.) VANCOUVER, April 20. Sir Joseph Ward has landed within jur gates after a record passage from Sydney of eighteen days. • It was with i* view of ascertaining the capabilities 3 f the Makura on a faster schedule, i.e., the Vancouver-Auckland run, that sreed was increased. Besides being a "record voyage, it was also most enjoyable, the passengers spending a pleasant time -at Suva, coming b&ck to the ship laden with curios and tropical flowers, while scores of the natives flocked to see them. At Honolulu, owing to the cholera sickness, only a short stay was made, and the ship steamed into Victoria on Sunday, April 2nd. The, Premier's party, consisting of Lady Ward, Miss Eileen Ward, Mr Gladstone Ward, Mr James Hislop and Mrs Hislop, the Hon. Dr. J. G. Findlay and Mrs Findlay, Mr Wilfred Findlay and Mr F. Matthews, were hero met by Mr H. W. Brodie, general passenger agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and Mr J. C. Irons, agent for the Canadian Australian steamship line, and their itinerary was arranged by these gentlemen. The Makura slid through the narrows late on the Sunday night, and as Sir Joseph watched the myriad twinkling lights, He said:—"When I remember the town of 1895, and the city I see now. it is as if I had awakened from sleep and found a metropolis where formerly was a wilderness." Ihis was his second visit since the days or 1895, and the change in that time has been almost incredible. . The party slept on the boat, and in the morning made a tour of the famous Stanley jfark. At the hotel oif Joseph was an exceedingly busy man. He regretted that he had not been able to accept the invitation of the Vancouver Canadian Club to address them, but thought it possible he might return this way. On the other hand, it is likely that he will pay a visit to ban Francisco, as the American Consul and Mr It W. Hoyt, of Portland. who > is the vice-president of the Panama Pacific Exposition, which is to be held in 1915, extended a special invitation to Sir Joseph to visit tho southern city in connection with th© New Zealand Government exhibit it is hoped to have there. Mr J. Graham Gow, the indefatigable seeker of fresh markets for New Zealand products, was also on hand, but Mr H Stephenson Smith, the Resident New Zealand Trade Commissioner at San Francisco, arrived too late to greet Sir Joseph. Mr W. A. James* the Vancouver representative of New Zealand, and Mr J. Fyfe Smith, a leading importer of Australasian produce, also interviewed Sir Joseph, together with many New Zealanders resident hero. The Primo Minister expressed his pleasure at learning that "The Press" was the first paper m New Zealand to have a correspondent in Vancouver, and remarked that it would help forward, if only in a, small degree, the great purpose of drawing together the two Dominions. How strange the city looked to the younger members of the party, the dress of many of the men—the ordincry type borrowed from across the li ne _being remarked on. One lived again with them in first impressions; certainly padded shoulders, peg-top trousers, and shaven necks are.rather striking at first. Viewing the harbour from a sky-scraper, or wandering in the department stores and shops filled in the time between lunch and 3.45. when the train pulled out for the East, the party being accommodated on the private car "Canada, which has been used by his Majesty, when Prince of Wales, Earl Grey, and other dignitaries. . Over-tho steppes we call the prairies, and on to Winnipeg, which'was reached on Thursday, April 6th. . There Sir Joseph delivered a speech before the Canadian' Club, of which he was the guest of honour In- all .Sir Joseph addressed some 3000 members of tho Canadian Club during his transit of the Dominion, and on each occasion was received with marked cordiality and enthusiasm. Ho spoke at Winnipeg. Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Lack of time prevented him from accepting the invitation of the Moose Jaw s*nd Fort William Clubs. Amongst those present at the Ottawa luncheon were fiis Excellency the GovernorGeneral, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Borden), tho Minister of Finance (tho Hon. Mr Fielding), the Minister of Marine (the Hon. Mr Brodeur), tHe Minister of Home Affairs (the Hon". Mr Fisher), the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Mr Lemieux), and a large number of members of Parliament. The party arrived at Montreal on April 13th, and left the same night for New York, where the Lusitania was boarded for London on the 19th inst. During his stay at Ottawa Sir Joseph, Lady Ward, and Miss Ward were the guest 3of the Governor-General.