The Premier in England.

Hastings Standard, Issue 377, 20 July 1897, Page 3

The Premier in England.

(From the Post Special.) Lom>on". June 4. The Campania frustrated the eiiorLs of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool to welcome Mr Seddon, by landing her passengers at an hour when all properly constituted civil dignitaries are wrapped in virtuous repose. The special train was indeed off to London before his lordship rang for the matutinal shaving water. Mr Seddon disguised his disappointment, if disappointed he felt, very cleverly. An outsider might, in short, have suspected he was much relieved to escape the ceremonial. Unquestionably the hon. gentleman did rejoice to have a few moments to spare for his old chums from St Helens. Saturday morning (toe 20th May) broke splendidly line, and at 6 a.m. your representative found himself on the landing stage at Liverpool, where a little later he was joined by Mr Keimaway (a son of the popular Secretary of the New Zealand office), who had been deputed by the AgentGeneral to welcome the Premier and made his path from steamer to train smooth. The Campania lay out in the middle of the river, anchors down and tugs in attendance, but there was no means of getting aboard until she came alongside. And when at length the leviathan vessel was berthed, only a favored few were allowed to go on board, but, thanks to the Marine Superintendent of the Cunard Lino, the Post representative was amongst them. He found Mr Seddon on the upper deck, with his wife and daughters. The Premier, though he had beeif up until the vessel anchored shortly after midnight, and had been turned out for breakfast at 5 a.m., looked fresh and genial, but he seemed very glad to be so near his journey's end. Mrs Seddon and hef daughters were also looking extremely well, but they were certainly not sorry that the Hotel Cecil and the end of their travels for the present wez*e, so to speak, within sight. The party did not hurry to land ; in fact they were among the last of the saloon passengers to leave the ship, it being close upon b o'clock when Mr Seddon stepped ashore. He was immediately surrounded by a group of old St Helens friends, including his old shop foreman at I)algleish's works. The twain had not set eyes on one another for over BO years, but the recognition on both sides was instantaneous. And under the influence of old associations the Hon. Richard dropped back into the old dialect as though he had " nobbut left Lankisher t'other dav." The first—the very first—visitor to call on Mr Seddon after his arrival in London was—marvel of marvels ! Sir George Grey. The " Grand Old Man" of New Zealand, whom the doctors had a fortnight previously given up for the third time, absolutely drove down to the Hotel Cecil in a carriage, and, with Miss Aston s help, made his way to the Premier's sittingroom. Mr Seddon was thunderstruck, Mr Reeves and our correspondent had prepared him to fiud Sir George bedridden. Instead the veteran seemed fairly well and stayed talking nearly two hours with the Premier. At first Mr Seddon noticed Sir George appeared a little confused, especially when references were made to recent events in New Zealand. Pireetly, however, old times cropped up he conversed Quite in characteristic fashion. The Premier and Mrs Seddoil's kind thought in placing a wreath on his son's grave at Adelaide had (as I haw mentioned before) deeply touched Sir George, antl he now thanked them

with emotion for their goodness. Mr | and Mrs Seddon called on Kir (!.■ cge '■ aivi Lady G-.vy on W' d;ui:sy ::L'.ot*- ; n .(i. i The Hon. il. J. Heddon loft London j on Tuesday ('sth June) for the Premier jof New Zealand's native town, St. Helens, wheiv lie served his apprenticeship as an engineer. ITe was accompanied by Mrs Seddon and two daughters, and the party had a most enthusiastic reception from some thousands of townspeople who had gathered at the railway station. He was received by a Mayoval deputation, and in response to numerous calls the honorable gentleman gave an address. After thanking his native townsmen for their hearty greetings, he said he was pleased to notice evidence of great progress in this country and its material wealth, and expressed hopes that such prosperity was not confined to the few, but was shared by all who had worked for it. His endeavor had always been not to tear down or revolutionise, but to build up this world which belonged to those who were brought into it, and who should have comfort and happiness in it. He was gratified that the Legislature of the country was taken up with questions affecting the social welfare of the masses, and appreciated the efforts made to provide for accidents that might occur in their coal-mines. On Wednesday evening, 2nd June, the Hon. Richard Seddon was one of the principal guests at the annual dinner of the Institute of Marino Engineers at the llolborn Restaurant. Mr J. Fortescue Flaunery, M.P., presided, and amongst those present were the President of the Board of Trade, Sir Tlios. Sutherland of the P. and 0. Company, Sir Edwyn Dawes, Sir F.. Robertson, and a number of Parliamentary and naval notables. Mr Ritchie wound up a speech more inieiesting to the Institute than the public by giving as a member of the Ministry a cordial welcome to.the head of the New Zealand Government, who was present. (Cheers.) It was said a fnv years ago that there was a growing coolness between England and her colonies, but he would like to see the man who would suggest this now. (Cheers.) Far from coolness, he believed the feeling of Imperial patriotism was increased by leaps and bounds, and it was the beginning of a great wave which would bind together more closely the Mother Country and her colonies, to the mutual advantage of both. Sir E. Robertson proposed '• Our Ships, Colonies, and Commerce." In responding for the colonies, the Hon. li. J. Seddon, who had a very enthusiastic reception, said he would have felt nervous but that he felt he was among friends and speaking in his native country for the first time for 81 yeurs. When the Secretary of State sent- an invitation to the colonial Prime Ministers to be present on the great occasion of the century it was accepted in the spirit intended, as they felt that every part of Her Most Gracious Majesty's Empire should be represented, and it was pleasing to know that all parties joined 111 making the necessary arrangements to send representatives to take part in Jubilee Day. He had cros e l the Pacific, the Rockies, and the Atlantic, and felt fairly well, but after he had taken part in the festivities prepared for them he was afraid that instead of witnessing as a New Zealander the wreck of London it would be a case of London witnessing the wreck of a New Zcalander. (Laughter.) The trade of Great Britain with the colonies was now greater than the whole trade of England and India at the beginning of the reign, and this should go hand in hand in working out the destinies of the Empire for the benefit of the people. He was told there were fears of an insufficient food supply during the Jubilee. If this was true it was a pity they did not kuow of it in time in New Zealand, for they were quite capable of arranging the food supply, and despite apparently insurmountable difficulties he believed they would be able to do so in the future. Those who said the colonies were anxious to separate from the Mother Country uttered a calumny on the good of those lands, for they recognised the fact that they lived under the greatest and best Constitution that was ever framed, and they loved and revered the head of that Constitution—(cheers) —and were animated by a stern and steadfast determination that in the hour of peril the Mother Country Would tiud her colonies behind her. (Cheers.) In sorrow they sympathised with her, and in joy they would rejoice as they were now doing on the occasion of the century. Sir E. J. Reed proposed " The Institute of Marine Engineers," to which Mr J. Adamson responded, and the Hon. R. J. Seddon presented the Chairman with the badge of the Marine Engineers Society of New Zealaud, which had been voted to him by that body.