THE HON. W. HALL-JONES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 111, 3 February 1908, Page 8

THE HON. W. HALL-JONES

RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND. HEALTH THOROUGHLY RESTORED. The Hon. W.. Hal'l-Joncs, Minister for Railways and Stinistcr for Public. Work", returned oil Saturday by the Corinthic from Ilis visit lo England, which was undertaken for the sake*, of' his' health. , The Minister was in • excellent spirits, and : his appearance, hacked by personal assurances, fully justified the recent reports that his health and vigour wero thoroughly restored. Mr. Hall-Jones was accompanied throughout the trip,' and on -his return to Wellington, by. Sirs.. Ilall-Jones, Miss Hall-Jones, and Mr. G. Schmidt (private secretary). A party of relatives, friends, and officials .went'out'on the Goveriimont steamer Hinomoa on Saturday morning to meet Mr. Hall.Toiies. and party, while' the' Corinthic was lying in the. stream. Those who thus had tho privilege 'of being the first tb welcomo the returning travellers inbluded all the Ministors'of "the Crown who were iii Wellington, namely,- the Hons. J. M'Gowan,- R. M'Nab, G. FowHs, J. A. Millar, and I)r. Findlay; tile members- of Mr. 'Hall-jones's family, Lady Ward and Miss Ward, and Misses' Mary and Rubi Seddon. The Upper. .House was reprssenied by' the Hons. J.-E.' Jeiikinsoii and R.- A. Loughnan ; ahd the' following departmental , officials wero also : Col Collins (Secretary l to the Treasury), Mr. H'. J. Hi Blow (Under-Secretary, Public Works Dcpartnient), Mr. R. W. 'Holmos (Engineor-in-Chief, Public Works Department), : Mr. C. It. Vickerman (Engineer), and Mr. T. H; Hamer ("Under-Secretary for. Mines). ,In . accordance with - the oxpresscd wish of t-ho Hon. : Mr. Hall-Jones, there , was no formal welcome or ceremony of' any kind. Shortly after the vessel was moored to the Queen's. Wharf ho wont ashore ; with' his family, and. proceeded to his residence. .