MR. WILFRID LAWSON.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 109, 9 May 1895, Page 2

MR. WILFRID LAWSON.

One of the passengers by the Doric was Mr. Wilfrid Lawson, eldest eon of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, the famous Temperance advooate. This morning Sir Robert Stout, Mo3ars. H. Field, D. Gain, ¥. H. Fraser, S. G. Martin, 14. C. Harding, N. Dodgshun, — Canning, and Bis Worship the Mayor, called npon Mr. Laweon on board the Doric to bid him welcome to New Zealand on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance and the Temperance workers generally. Mr. Field, as Secretary of tho Alliance, said they desired to meet a member of a family which had done so muoh for Temperance, and to send through him greetings to his father, as well as a hope that sir Wilfrid might see his way to oome to New Zealand in the interests ot the Temporauoe cause. Sir Robert Stoat said they wished Mr. Lawson to convey to his lather the deep interest felt in New Zealand in his work in England, and their strong desire to see him out here. Mr. F. H Fraser said he had been in correspondence with Sir Wilftid respecting another individual who had represented himself as his son, and who since had become the nephew of a Bishop, an Inspector of Sohoolß, and now an inmate of Her Majesty's prison. He accepted Mr. Field's assurance that it was all right this time, and that Mr. J.awson was Mr. Lawson. Certainly the views of the psendo-Lawson were quite unlike anything he had heard of fair Wilfrid, and he hoped they would soon have Sir Wilfrid himself out here. Such a vißit would do both him and them good. Ho reoently sent Home to Sir Wilfrid a letter introdnomg Mr. Isitt, and as the best introduction he could give, sent with it an editorial note which had appeared in the Evening Post upon that gentleman. His Worship the Mayor and the other members of tho deputation having also bidden Mr, Lawson's welcome, and expressed a strong desire for a visit from Sir Wilfrid, than whom they said no English public man was better known in the colonies, or would receive a warmer welcome. Mr. Lawson thanked them for their good wishes. The adage, that " The sins of the father were visited on the children," must be altered ; for here it was the work of the father whioh was visited on the unworthy son. He was travelling for health, and so far had done little personally in the Temperance oause, bnt hoped to do more. He could assure Mr. Fraser that he was the real Simon Pure, and would not, like his predecessor, ask them for his fare on to Christchnroh, whither he was going. His father was an old and a bnsy man, and except for considerations of health it was impossible tbat he would be able to visit the colony, but he would convey their messages to him, and point out the advantages of his making the trip. The deputation then withdrew, with mutual good wishes.