FROM OVERSEA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 5

FROM OVERSEA.

RETURN OF THE BARONET AND KNIGHT. A MIDNIGHT LANDING. SOME POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Tlio return of Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., and Sir John Findlay, K.C.M.G., (o New Zealand, was not attended by anything that could be called a public demonstration. They landed at tho Wool Jetty at midnight and the small muster thero oarlicr in tho evening had by that hour almost wholly disappeared.

A few people straggled on to tho Queen's Wharf beforo nine o'clock, and % two and threes tho army of welcome grew until it numbered about 50. It was a quarter to ten when the lights of tho Ruapehu rounded Point Halsivell, and a very dreary wait began. Tho people on the Queen's Wharf joined those who had gathered on the wool jetty, and at half-past tcu about 150 had arrived. What most improssxl the little crowd was tho large mimbar of policemen anil detectives and Harbour Board employees. It was quite liko old times. A false alarm drove- tho public from its shelter on tho lco side of the L shed along tho jetty. But the police were taking no risks. Thero were enough of them to handle ten' times tho crowd. They formed up across the .jetty, and gently urged the crowd back, amidst a good deal of friendly banter.. It was uselass for anybody to plead that he was a loyal frknd of tho baronet. Useless also* to point out that there was not enough public to get iu the way.' "Useless to urge that only a loyal anxiety to look on and cheer could explain one's venturing out in tho cold and rain. The police simply said: "Ton must goright back." Now and then someljody would sarcastically suggest that tho police should turn the hoso on tho mob. Thero was not enough mob to resist a half-inch jet. So tho littlo crowd, a thoroughly orderly ooe, strolled off again, and patiently waited in tho cold, amusing themselves by guessing at tho state of mind that had ordered out such a muster of men iu blue. "We're the people, aren't we? Then this is trusting the people, I suppose?" said ono philosopher, whose cold i'eot had got the. better of his good humour. About eleven o'clock tho less enthusiastic began to drift away to "catch trams. The others huddled on the warm sido of the shed, and chatted about the theory of trusting the people. And the' rain fell softly now and then, and the horses in the cabs and expresses paused in their nose-bag supper every few minutes to turn their heads and'wonder whether tho shivering citizens might not be the Camorra whrai so many police and Harbour Board officials were required. By midtyght, when the Hinemon reached the wharf, the crowd had dwindled to about 30 persons, including tho sub-in-spector of police and a sergeant or two and two constables in uniform, tho wharfinger, and fivo of his staff. Thero wero also five pressmen. Tho only demonstration was n blast on the horn of tho Prima- Minister's waiting motor-car. Slow Steaming.It had been announced that the Ruapehu would arrive in the stream beta .'en 7- and 8 p.m. She actually anchored at 10 o'clock. A notice had appeared on tho telegraph notice board that she had passed Farewell Spit at 10.20 a.m. yesterday, and later a messaeo came through stating that Stephen Island was left behind at 2.35 p.m. When this was v known those competent to judge reckoned that the vessel would arrive in the stream about fivo hours latar. However, tho Ttuapohu took tnuch longer than nnticipated* This is put down to the vessel having had head muds and the tido against her whilst coming through the strait, but it is not usual for a mail iteamcr to take nearly seven hours on a five-hour journey unless the weather is •exceptionally bad.

Tho Real Welcome. Tho real welcome to the returning Ministers and their party took place out in tho harbour, and though select as to personnel it was quite demonstrative and enthusiastic enough. Members of Parliament and b number of friends and political supporters of the Ministers were invited to go out on the Government steamer Hincmca, which loft tho wool jetty at 6An p.m. -The only members of the Legislature, who made the trip were tho Ministers of tho Crown. Sir A. R. Guinnera (Speaker of the House), the Hon. W. C. !'. Carnci<o«a (Acting-Speaker of. the Council), the Hon. TV. Bechan, MX.C., and Messrs. Marnier, Poole, Field, Smith, e.nd Rangihiroa. M.P.'s. The others on board included Messrs. D. .T. Nathan. M. Kennedy, H. T. Gallichan, ,T. O'l.oughlin, E. Arnold, a number of heads of State Departments, and other gentlemen, and a considerable umnbor of ladies. The Hinomoa cruised off Seatoun until tho Ruanelm was si silted at 9 ti.m., and then followed her to her anchorage in the stream and came alongside of her, whore the parties joined forces. ' Sir Jcscnh Ward and Dr. Findlay both apnearcd to bo in the best of health. There was a general fathering in the saloon of the P.uapchu, where some speeches wore made. SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER,

INTERESTING ANNOUNCEMENTS. Sir Joseph Ward acknowledged the welcome accorded himself and his companions, and said it was n very great satistactiou for them to find themselves again in New Zealand. Ho had be n watching what had gone, on in No* Zealand, and he had leumt that there were peoplo who said he was not coming bnc;. Concerning statements that had been made about what his colleague and himself had done in the Old Land, he would say that Jia was not going to lot anybody put a loot upon his throat, alid now he had come back ho would open his t.iroat and put en record what lie believed to be true. He and Sir John Findlay had done their best for the country and the Empire, and they were ready to 'subln't themselves to tin. l judgment of Hie people of New Zealand. He was prepared to trust the people, and he was not in tho least disturbed by some of the small tilings done by some people rpgar ing himself during'his absenr?. Same extraordinary mis-statements had been made. It was said that ho had pnrdiaicd an estate in Essex. He had not done so. Ho thought ho had never b?cn in Essex, and ho had not since he had been a Minister negotiated for anything outsido New Zealand. No doubt some p?op!o wished him to 1m outsido the country, and so his visionary opponents roannfa tured such extraordinary, vicious, and malicious stories—he would not use the term which would characterise them so accurately. lie would sooner go out of office to-mor-row—he would sooner never have been in office than gain it by such moans as those. Tho Baronetcy. He saw in tha same direction that something extraordinary had been douo in connection with the title with which he had been honoured, and that it had been said ho had had to set aside .C.10,000 for that honour. Ho never a'k"d for the honour, and no recommendation went through tho ordinary channels. It was conferred on him, and it ought to bo regarded as an honour to tho country. Hero (he Prime Minister was interrunted with cheers, and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Gr.od Follow.' Proceeding, tho Prime Minister slid the people who circulated statements of that kind were worse than mendacious. Ho was verv proud of the honour, and tho fact that it came unsolicited and voluntarily ought to be regarded as, to sjiiio extent, tin honour to the man, and as an honour to the country. In this connection no obligation was placed upon him in the way of any monetary consideration for his family. For the information of tlioso who bad interested themselves in tho matter, ho would (ell them that tho cost to him altogether was loss than .CIOO. Tlioso who had circulated wilful distortions of tho facts had done it with tho object of damaging the parly which ho had tho honour to 1» at tho head of. The High Commissionership. . Statements had also been nuulo that ho intended to take tho High Commissionership. Ho had said in Parliament before ho went away that to would not I

take any position that would prevent him going into tho highways and byways of NcwZcaland. Neither beforo tho general election. would ho make any arro,ngo:'< o( for accepting tho High Commisßionership, nor would he do so after the general wetion. As soon as ho heard of this suggestion ho contradicted it by wireless. His colleagues and ho would seltlo at nil early dato who was to hi the High Commissioner, but it would not be himself— not even if his colleagues desired that tho position should bo conferred upon him. Sir J. Findlay and Sir R. Stout. no had also noticed criticism concerning the honour conferred upon Sir John I'illdlay. Those who uttered it seemed to linvo forgotten tho names of Sir Freuoriek Wliilaker, Sir Hvnry Miller, and Sir William Kiisscll. with whom they had been closely associated in tho past. Distinctions had been conferred beforo on those who led the Legislative Council, Jn aspersing Sir John Fin Hay they ••ero aspersing at least ono whom thov followed but a few years ago. 'Tho sniuo people, ■hnd been connecting the nanio of the Chief Justice of this country with the High Commissionership. So far as ho (Sir ,1. Ward) was aware, Sir Robert Stout hnd never directly or indirectly given auy indication that ho desired such a position. Ho was a man of great capacity and great integrity, and he filled his high position to the satisfaction of the great majority of tho people of this country. (Hear, hear.) A suggestion hud also been inado that Sir John Findlav' would leave tho position which he now so capably filled iu order to accept that now occupied by the •thief Justice. Nothing of the kind was going to be done, and neither Sir liibert Stout nor Sir John Findlay would bo High Commissioner.

For the benefit of those who had been criticising- absent Ministers, and who had twitted Sir John findlay with not being a representative of the neonle, he wished to say that an opportunity would be given for a constituency to elect Sir John Findlay. lie would stand lor a teat, and ho {.-at Joseph Ward) believed he would bo roturnodMnpplnnse)—and "ion he would bo on tho same plana as the men who had been criticising him, and who were anxious to gain power in any way they could. His colleagues and himself would carry on tho affairs of the country honourably, and to tho very best of their ability. They would light the general election fairly from end to end of tho country. Tho bulk of tho peuplo would rocogniso that good «work had been dono in tho past in spite of many hard thinga that, hail been said against tho Admiuis* tration and against himself. Tho majority would recogniso that they had had a keen desiro to serve the weliare of the people. They wanted to see th 6 election contest removed from innuendo. They wanted to see it fought on the policy and administration of the Government, and they would not adopt tho method of.trying to pull men's feet from under them by innuendo and insinuation. They would not descend to adopt any system that meant onsting reflection on individuals who might belong to the Opposition, and they had' a right to chum tho same consideration from every man and woman in New Zealand. Ho again thanked those present for their warm and enthusiastic welcome. Ho also thanked' Sir James Carroll and the rest, of his colleagues for their work in carrying on tho Government. They had kept the Liberal flag living, and dono it well. They would all bo pleased to know that he (Sir Joseph. Ward) was in rattling good trim, and Sir Johu Findlay also was in ?ood trim. They wero both in good heart, nnil were. Quito prepared to meet their friends and their opponents. 'J'hey were very glad, after their travels all over the world, to bo back again in dear old New Zealand. Applause, cheers, and tho singing o£ '"Iloinc, Sweet Home," followed tho Prime Minister's speech. SIR JAMES CARROLL. MORE ABOUT TUB CRITICS. Sir,Janios Carroll then sang a solo in Maori, and delivered a speech of welcome. He .said that they had scanned every lino of the cablegrams from Home to see what those now returned had been saying aud doing. Thtv had dono great deeds for their country and for tho Empire. Tho feelings of the country had been with them all tne time, because of what they had done in that great Imperial Council at Home. Sir James ridiculed tho criticism passed on Sir Joseph Ward. Aa ho. noarcd the close of his speech, his tone and manner gradually acquired a resemblance to a Maori war cry. He exclaimed: "Look at your friends,'all round you, and ns for your enemies, spurn (hem with your toe!" no concluded in tho Maori"tongue amid applause.

THE NEW KNIGHT. A CANDIDATE AT THE ELECTIONS. Sir John Findlay, in n short speech, paid ho obtained Iho position ho now hold because- he was chosen for it on account of such merits as ho had, and ho had not solicited it. Ho had been told that ho had not the confidence of the people of thip country. Ho did not wish to remain in public life nn hour v\ longer than tho people wished mm to , he there. Ho would offer himself as a candidoto at tho general election, and alter that he would either take his scat beside his leader in the Hou«o of Representatives, or he would retire into private |ifo, and resume tho practico of his profiller further cheering, the wholo party went aboard the Uinenioa, and wore soon ashore, as .related above,