COLONIAL PREMIERS DAY BY DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 10399, 21 August 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

COLONIAL PREMIERS DAY BY DAY.

(From Our Special Correspondent.]

London, July 9, AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

On Wednesday morning I was early at the Hotel Cecil, in the hope of a word with Mr Retd ; or, failing him, Mr Kingston; or, in default of South Australia’s pride, Mr Seddon. But it was hot the least use. The Premiers had only ton minutes to spare before starting for Windsor to spend a day at the Castle, including half an hour with our beloved Sovereign, and the, exigencies of a smart toilet outweighed all other considerations.

The distinguished party loft for Windsor from Paddington by an express train. They were met at the station by an old friend, the Earl of Kintore, who has bean Lord in Waiting throughout the Jubilee, and was deputed by Her Majesty to receive the Premiers and act as cicerone of the Royal domain. After a short call at the Castle the colonists drove to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, the burial place of the Prince Consort, and to Cumberland Lodge, the residence of Prince and Princess Christian, whence they returned to Windsor about halfpast one o’clock. The weather was charming, and the beauties of the Royal demesne were evidently greatly appreciated by the visitors during their drive along the forest woodlands. Upon reaching the lower road the company alighted at the Cloisters, and after visiting the Albert Chapel, which contains the tombs of the Duke of Albany and the Duke of Clarence, walked across the passage into St. George’s. Chapel, through which they were conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The colonial visitors on quitting the chapel proceeded to the Castle, and assembled in one of the State apartments, where they were received by Lord Edward Pelham-Olinton, master of the Royal Household. Lunch with the Household in St. George’s Hall followed, the Duke of Devonsbire,. Mr Chamberlain, and other distinguished Privy Councillors having now arrived on the scene. The hall is, of course, one of the oh ief glories of Windsor Castle, being adorned with the banners and escutcheons of the Knights of the Garter, and trophies of medieval helmets and lances. Japanese screens marked the open doorway at the west end, whence a broad table stretched more than half the length of the noble apartment. The length of the table was decked with a row of palms and flowers, supported iu handsome silver-gilt vases from the Queen’s gold pantry, and was centred by a beautifully-designed gilt plateau and epergne. Upon each side, and fronting the guests’ chairs, were silver dishes filled with grapes, pineapples, and other choice fruit. The Royal footmen, who served, were dressed in gold-epauletted and cuffed scarlet coats, dark knee - breeches, and silk stockings, while the pages were in plain black liveries. The Queen’s Scotch pipers were also in attendance, but did not play. After lunch the Queen—supported by Princess Beatrice, the Duke of Connaught, the Grand Duka of Hesse, and the great officers and ladies of ' the Household—received the Premiers and their wives in the White Drawing Room. Each Premier was then in turn called upon by Her Majesty, and presented the address ho had brought over from his colony. To the first of the right honorables (Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mr Reid) the Queen said a few words ; at the rest she smiled. Each gentleman also received the Jubilee medal. This ceremony over, and the Premiers’ wives having also presented the addresses entrusted to them, there was a brief adjournment, and in another apartment the Premiers wore sworn in members of the Privy Council. At 4.30 the party returned to town. Yesterday (Thursday) the Premiers spent a long morning in Downing street discussing with Mr Chamberlain and Mr Goschen the contributions of the colonies towards naval and Imperial defence and the management of the Australian squadron generally. It is Punchinello’s secret that the inexhaustible, irrepressible, and often irrelevant eloquence of one or two of the Premiers has seriously interftred with the practical utility of these discussions. With less talk, business might have been done, but possible results have again and again been smothered by a resistless flow of futile verbosity. At one o’clock the Right Hon. Mr Seddon ■was due at the Holborn Restaurant to lunch with the Fabiau Society, but he did nob turn up till 2.10, and the speeches, etc., in connection with this function lasted till 5.15. At 6.30 there was a New Zealand dinner at the same locale in the right hen. gentleman s honor, the Agent-General and a‘ committee of business people interested iu the colony’s produce bring the hosts. Mr Seddon addressed the large gathering, for nearly an hour,' his speeoh rehashing most of the points he has so often made in London and tho provinces.

ANOTHER NEW ZEALAND DINNER. There is not a great deal to bo said about this second New Zealand dinner. The menu was very fur from being up to. Hotel Cecil form, and the service was execrable. On the other hand, wines were plentiful, and the special New Zealand fruits, cheese, etc., excellent advertisements for the cokny. As for the speeches—well, they would have been more effective had they been much shorter. Sir Montague Nelson made some sound and sensible remarks on the frozen meat trade urging, those interested to believe that, each side of the water knew its own business best. We believed that New Zealanders understood the requirements of the trade in the colony; let them place some confidence in those who were responsible for matters at this end. No doubt (said Sir Montague) things were not as prosperous as they had been. This was due to a variety of causes, some of which he instanced. ■ The cure lay in combination and concentration. Mr Seddon’s speech, ns I have said, covered a vast range of subjects. He was, for instance, strong on Maoris : •The Natives of the colony, he pointed out, were represented at this banquet. If- one thing more than another gave him pleasure it was that the noble Maori race was saved, for it was increasing at last. When the first Europeans landed bn the shores of New Zealand the Natives, though so numerous that they might have exterminated them, took them by the hand. As time rolled on that grand race of Natives threatened to disappear; but the Europeans, feeling that they would be lacking in one of the qualities that ennobled man if they forgot what they owed to the Maoris, did what they could to save them, with the gratifying result he had already mentioned. They did more. They took successful steps to unite themselves closely with the Natives. The happy results were known to all the world. One of his greatest pleasures during the Jubilee celebrations was the presence of Maoris in the New Zealand contingent. At this banquet they had Maoris of the best blood princes who had stripped themselves of their rank to come here with the colonial contingent. They had done so in order that they might see their mother, the Queen, as they called her. On Jubilee Day they were unfortunately placed behind St. Paul’s Cathedral, where they could not see their mother. One of them being asked how he liked the procession replied: “Very grandbut my heart is so-£ because I did not see our mother. One of them was the son of a chief who fought with the English in the unhappy times when there were troubles with the Natives The Queen sent a sword of honor to the chief in recognition of his services. Before the son had the honor of going into the presence of the Queen he said; I may see my mother. She never saw my father, and she won’t know me, but when I hold out my sword she will recognise the sword she sent to my father.” With regard to British in New Zealand, they were worthy of the Native race who had welcomed them. They had conquered the forests and drained the swamps r ■} ,' v Zealand' was the garden of the world. Like the Maoris they had sent representatives to the Jubilee, and if one thing more than another had touched the hearts of those representatives it was the hearty welcome accorded to them by everybody in this country, from the highest to the lowest. The only discordant note they had heard was the question: " What are the colonists going to dp for the Empire?’ It seemed to imply that they had done nothing, which was not the case. New Zealand, with a population of less than 800,000, was spending half a million a year on defence. The colony had done much to add to the resources of the Empire. It had 900,000 acres of land under grass. Last year it exrast 4 ! the value of It had 20,000,000 sheep, a number which - could be infinitely increased if the market expanded. Its dairy industry was most important. Last year it exported 20,000,0001b of butter and cheese. It could give to the British Isles an article equal, if not superior, to that of foreign countries. New Zealand, moreover, was-eminently a grain-CTow- } c ?, With regard to foreign trade, he neld that the time had con e when Treatiea'injunous to the Empire ought to be denounced. Uofer connection between the colonies and the Mother Country was needed—a consideration which led him to hope that the Pacific cable would be laid without delay. t The mineral resources of the colony were not to be despised, it had already exported gold and silver to the value of £55,000,000, .and yet the surface of its .land had only-been scratched. Recognising the importance of encouraging investments of British capital, the colony undertook, as far as possible to see that they were guided into legitimate and

profitable channels. - He had not got to the end of New Zealand's There wascoaL When the deposits of Great Britaln had been worked out, those of -Hew Zealand . would: take their place. The indebtedness of the colon? was com* paratively small, the assets being fonr or fire .times- greater. It was true-that'there were patties in New Zealand; but in the desire to be represented in the Imperial Parliament and to show' affection for our glorious 'Empress-Queen all party feeling was effaced. \

After the Premier came Mr, George Goodsir, who asked the company to drink “Success to the Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Industries of New Zealand.”

Mr “ Clatha” Mackenzie responded, re.. marking with regard to New Zealand meat that, notwithstanding some remarks to thecontrary, there need be no fear as to its wholesome state. The system of inspection applied to the live Stock of the colony was such that no impurity or disease could creep into it.. That, however, was not all. Only the best ,of the best was sent to the Old Country. As for ; the- loyalty of NewZealanders, he was able to vonch for it. Thousands who bad never seen the Mother Land called it “ Home.” It-rested with the Imperial ' Government to change , these silken ties into bands of steel, by giving to the.ontpostsbf the Empire-a voicein the Imperial Parliament. Colonists were deeply interested in some foreign questions, and it was a moot point how long they would be content to sec the whole foreign policy of the Empire controlled by a Parliament elected solely by a section of the Empire. The Agent-General tried to cheer us' np a bit towards eleven, but we were top depressed by the avalanches of oratory which preceded him to do him' justice. Finally fifteen stalwart Maoris • danced' a haka on the platform, which (to quote the * Daily Mail ’) made everybody’s hair stand up like lard on a chicken. The dance'is hard to describe, but it is safe to assert that the performance of it would scare off an enemy before a blow could be struck. . As an aid to bloodless warfare it has never been touched.

PITY THE POOR PREMIERS. The following sketch, whioh appeared in Friday’s ‘Pall Mall Gazette,’ was written by an Anglo-Colonial correspondent after a conversation with the private secretary of the busiest of our distinguished visitors. For convenience sake he made the secretary appear to tell his own tale

The Hotel Cecil was deserted, for all. the Premiers had departed unto Spithead, and’ the Royal attendants wandered aimlessly along the luxurious corriders in the wing set apart for the statesmen from over the seas. I took advantage of the lull in the social bombardment of entertain* meats, callers, functions, etc., to collect my scat* tered thoughts and the thouaand-and-one letters, cards, Jubilee odea —bad and indifferent,'none good—invitations, requests for the .right hon. - s photograph, .which lay in confusion and profusion in his sitting room. Goethe once re* marked that he didn’t know “ where to grasp in* finite nature.” I felt much the same concerning the great array *’ before me—a veritable literary nightmare. I picked up the nearest communi* cation. It was from a budding poet in Bloomsbury, enclosing for the “right hon/s” acceptance a copy, on satin, of his Jubilee Ode, entitled * Victoria Victrif .* It was plentifully sprinkled with the commonplaces or patriotic fervor, to wit: “Hands across the sundering seas, H • Viking’s strain,” “the boundless Empire, “joy* ful Jubilee,” etc., so I put it among the 1 invita* tions declined,” which were swelling visibly, for they contained nineteen letters from eminent who wished the right hon. to sit for his portrait in oils, and fifteen notes from lady type* writers proffering their services. I could have found work in the shape of correspondence for half a dozen of them. Behind my back were ranged six busts of Her Most Gracious Majesty—all equally unlike the original—sent on approval by their sanguine makers, and varying in price from twenty to two hundred guineas. I had to* answer the letters that accompanied them, to prevent the room from degenerating into an impromptu StUdlO. AT AT

As regards invitations to receptions, “at homes ” (where you wish you were at home), water parties, their name was legion. Here is a selection for one day taken from the right hon.'s ’ diary:—The Countess of ’s lecture on the secret of making pancakes, at 10.30 a.m. See Mr Chamberlain at 11. That allows bnlf an hour for the pancakes. Sit for photograph for the ‘Daily Flatterer* at 11.45—three-quarters of an hour in which to discuss Imperial matters of moment* Back to the Cecil at 12.30 to receive a deputation of the Mile End National League. Lunch at 1.30 with Lord at Matfield. Back to town at 3.46 to inspect the troops at Chelsea Barracks. Three garden parties at 4.3o—Lady *s, the Duchesa of ’s. and Baroness —’s. Finally decide on the Duchess’s, as it is the nearest to the Cecil. Dine with H.R.H. at 8 p.m. Six receptions for that evening -all at ten o’clock. Can’t do it. Look in at Mrs GooSworth’s for ten minutes, and then, best of all, repose at midnight, flavored with anxiety at the thought of the same ceaseless whirl to-morrow. 1 * Bring me some more notepaper and envelopes,” I said despondently to the Royal servant, gorgeous in his panoply of scarlet and V.R. buttons. ,p Yes, sir,’ he replied ; u that makes the third ream today. I expect you will be glad when the colonial gentleman go back to Australia and Africa, and things is a bit quieter.” “ I shall,” I sighed, endeavoring to wade through a ten-page effusion from an old colonist bringing to the “right hon.’s” attention his scheme for the colonisation of unoccupied Ciown lands. “Excuse me, sir,” said my regal attendant, but there’s some one wandering about in the' passage. • “All right,” I replied, "go and see who it is/* He returned m a moment. "It’s a gentleman, sir, wants to see the ‘right non., ”he said; "he won’t detain him more than half an hour, but he should just like to explain the working of a plan of his own which is equally efficacious for ridding Australia of rabbits and South Africa of locusts/’ "Tellhim the right hon. is at Splthead, and won t be back for a month,” I said-despairingly* Pity the poor Premiers, for of such is the kingdom of Greater Britain—at any rate till they take ship back to the comparative quietude of Ottawa, Cape Town, Sydney, etc.