THE GOVERNOR ON TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 12094, 15 January 1904, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR ON TOUR

[Kkdm Ook Own Repotteb,] KATTANGATA, January 16. Leaving Pakerau by the twenty-past ten train,' Kwtangata was reached precisely at noon to-day. The weather was fine, ;iad the school chQdren'B band were drawn up at the railway station platform. Replying to an address of welcome, His Excellency said ha was very pleased to again visit Kaitangffto. He had always tak-m a deep interest in the mining districts of New Zealand, and was a very great believer in the mining wealth of the colony, which at present he considered was almost left undeveloped. No doubt there was a good output of coal and a good output of gold, but there were large portions of the colony that had really never been properly prospected. There were, besides, within his knowledge, mines in the colony which had been worked in a sort of half manner, but never really property developed. He believed the future mining industry of New Zealand oapable of vaet development, and there could be no doubt, if be proved right in his estimation, that this meant a great' increase in the wealth of the colony not hitherto counted on. The address mentioned trie Veterans' Home as being built for the " soldiers of the King." These words were really correct, but as they might be misunderstood he wished to explain that the home was intended for those who fought in the colony in the Maori War and South African Wax. The youngest man they had in the home was sixty-three, and he was wounded in the Maori War so badly that he was paralysed on one side and unable to work. The number h'ving in the home had to bo limited to forty, and the ages of the various inmates varied from a boy of sixty-three—(laughter)—to older men of eaghty-fdx, the average age being seventyone, and it had been the object of the Board only to admit those of good character, not only as their services in' the army, navy, and colonial forces, but as regarded the life they lived in this colony. The man who was a loafer or who was able to earn his Irving had not the smallest chance of admission. He was quite sore Kaitangata, like every other district in New Zealand, from the North Cape to the Bluff, had sent its quota to the South African War. He did not suppose New Zealand would be called on, possibly for many years to come, to again take part in war, but he had no hesitation in saying, from his knowledge of the people from north to south, that should the time and need occur no Government would be able to keep the aons of New Zealand from taking their share in the strife, should the Government not want to do so. Such a thing weald, however, be the last he should expect to find in this colony. The address mentioned the energy he bad displayed in visiting various parts of the colony, but he did not think that that was worth mention, because he considered it a duty and as much a part of his work as any other to make the acquaintance of the people and to see to their requirements, so that the knowledge thus obtained might be used fpr their interest. He thanked them for the welcome.

Cheers having been given fox Lord and Lady Ranfurly and Sir Joseph WaTd, His Excellency was> asked to present the ambulance certificates,' and in doing 90 he said he was always pleased to present ambulance certificates, and nowhere more so than, in a mining town. On© never knew when the knowledge of first aid would become useful. Though he had no certificate he had on more than one occasion been called on to render first aid, and what could happen to him was much more likely to happen to his hearers. He had had cases of broken ribs and other accidents to and, thanks to having been connected for very many years with the Order of Ft. John, he had gained certain knowledge by attending lectures, though he had not gone through the. aid course, and he trusted the movement in Kaitaagata would continue, and that all, ladies especially, would go through the course. It was no use being content with first aid; it would be much better to go on and pass the advanced course and get a medal Dr KtegeraTtf, on behalf of St. John's Ambulance, thanked the Governor for presenting the certificates and for the courtesy shown in acceding to the request to do so. The patronage His Excellency had extended to the Order in Now Zealand would do a great deal to help on the work—a work that would extend to New Zealand's longsome much-required attention.;* ■■ -v i. ■■-. ; KAITANRATAi January 15 At the luncheon given at the Bridge Hotel, Lord Banfnrly, replying, to the toast of hw health,' proposed -by Mayor Wilson, expressed the cpinion that some of the large districts of the colony, especially ia giwttiWiri. had not heeaj>roperly dftVeiqped.

Ho knew mines, had been.abandoned that did npt eeem to him to have been properly prospected. No doubt this might wr« been due to insufficient capital, oat witfe _ theminerals that they know even oast in the country, he was quite sore theFjAtt must be a much greater mining indusf in the future than is at present earned on. He regretted that in * 'jjf tapgata the coal was not of a char&we? suitable for steam ships, otherwise possiblj the mines might W working night and day, because Japan seemed to be throwing hrf orders about in a pretty reckless manner nod had sent large orders for coal to Sydney, which possibly might mean West port also. He could, assure the assembly and should never fail to remember the kindness he had met with everywhere he had gone. Sir J. 6. Ward, replying on behalf of Parliament, proposed by Mr D. Stewart, of mentioned that the present was his first visit to Kartangata, and was made under exceedingly happy auspices, as Minister in atteodanoe on one who'had rendered such distinguished services to the colony at the King's representative. Referring to the cables received that day, Sir J.G. Ward proceeded to say that it appeared either we were very dose to war or thai Japan had already won a splendid victor? •• from the Russians, and if the worst should come he hoped there was not a Britisher in any part of the world whose sympathies would not be Japanese. Russia had been trying to wrest from Japan the fruita of the signal victory she had achieved over China, and to act to the detriment not only of Britain, but of the United States, of China, and of Japan, and all for the'aggrandisement of Russia. He- referred to the Japanese-Chinese commercial treaty, which, he said, was' destined to do an immense amount of good for all parts of the world that wanted to trade openly with the Par East.

The Governor's party visit the Kaitangata and Castle Rock coal mines, and then proceed to Balclutha,. where the early settlers' picnic is being .held. Dunedin will be reached at sixteen minutes past ax. / His Excellency goes to the Hakateramea. fish ponds to-morrow.