SIR J. G. WARD REACHES WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 12881, 2 August 1906, Page 7

SIR J. G. WARD REACHES WELLINGTON.

[Special tq the Star.] c ,. WELLINGTON, August 2. ‘- lr Joseph Ward and party arrived at the Manawatu station last evening, in the nudst of something likp a blizzard. The station, nevertheless, was crowded with people to, meet him, with the Reception Committee ®t then* head. Their ■ chairman (the mayor) had inteoded to he pro* sent, but ao attack of rhcuniatisra of the tace kent him at home. J noticed a SP°diy sprinkling o[ menifaers of both Houses. Ihe Civil Service was oonspjpuous, and as fqr the rest, a large number faces familiar to the citizen in his QRily walk? were to be seen amongst the crowd. Sir Joseph seized ' upon this p|rciimsta.nce for ’ the opening remark? of his speech, which, as a matter pf course, was forced from him after the few who had found their way into the saloon carriage had shaken handg. Their were cut short by impatient cries of “ Sneech 1” punctuated with ■* Three cheers for Sir Joseph!” at intervals. Sir Joseph at onc.e came out on the carriage platform, with bare head, and bowed. It was some little time before he got a chance do speak. Then he declared how glad he ivas tp get hpme again, and see 50 many well-known friendly faces. After that warm and warmly-cheered introduction, he referred feelingly to the loss he had sustained in the death of the late Premier, regretting that he could not feel the shake of tfie manly hand of his vigorous old comrade. Passing naturally to the successor of Mr Seddon, he paid a very warm tribute to Mr Hall-Jopes for the splendid manner in which he had discharged a difficult duty under most • trying circumstance?. The crowd showed their appreciation by giving three cheers fpr .Mr • Hidl-Jones. Sir Joseph proceeded to touch lightly on the incidents of his journey down—ps comfortable and pleasant a railway journey as anyone could wish for —far more comfortable than anything he had experienced in his travels. For example, he instanced one experience he had had dining his run along from the Atlantic coast to San Francisco in a train known a? the “Twentieth Century Express.” Knowing they had the New Zealand Minister pf Raiiwavs aboard, the train people determined to show him what they could do, and they did it well, with one spin of ninetvthree miles an hour, and later with another of eight-five. It made him’ look up his insurances. The railway 'system •here was more comfortable, without these drawbacks. In conclusion, f?ir Joseph said he hoped to meet his friends again at the Town Hall on the following evening, wished them good-night, and stepped on to the platform. and was lost in a whirl of shaking dsi Sir Joseph is looKing in snlendid health, better than I have seen him Fok for tpn years, fresh and keen as he used to be in the vouthful, irresponsible days of his (Parliamentary start in the later eighties. Lady Ward also seems to have derived ■much benefit from the trip, and Mr Gray, of the Post Office fwho went away looking very ill), is a new man. Politics were pot expected, neither were they' forthcoming.