SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7191, 8 January 1902, Page 3

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

(Per Press Association.) GitKYjiouTir, January 7. Tho Premier, Mrs Seddon and party left this morning overland for Christc^Vr,ch. A pijrty offriends accompanied them as.far as Qtira. On avrival at Ojiira the Premier mot Mr'Bogue, tho American engineer, and will c'pnfor with him regarding tho routp for the line. At a lunphe.cn/ in responding to che toast of !}is J>ealih, tho Premier said ho had never seen tjj'o goast so'prosperous and tho peoplo bo happy a 'nf}' pgntentod as now. Thero was a great future before the district when tho coal measures were developed, and coimnuuicatiou ,9pene4 by rail to Cbristchuroh. H.e hpp6,d that' Jig yould bs Premior when it wpul.d ' bo'possibly tp leave Groymouth aitbt breakfast,' and 'have supper in Christchurch. Ha folt confident the problem o£ getting tho lino through would be satisfactorily undertaken at a not far distant date. He \vaJ? $99 ?ar .?4vanoed in years to seek fresh fjolds ;' 'he" wiik conte^ed and "ftppy in JJgw Zealand, which" ho was i proud to say s?as jn a 'prosperous "s.tate. i Jhe output of gold froiii tli's Qyist this year was tho largest since IS7I, and when proper dredges got to work, the ji)dus.tpy )ypuld largely increase. He had fttlt Jj^ejiftajn v f }hg last tun years, and natufo could not 'Jong fc^ld oat under the pressure. He woul'l Jj'pgfl to felaeken down. The Government had he contended, done a wise thing in bring ng Mr Boguo to report on the line, and he did not think the engineors o^ fjfp polony would take it as a slight. Iho timber industry required more care, or there would s'ooj^ bo no timber at all. The present system oj education was g0.0,d, hut" they must go in for technical ins.truptjpn.as Germany, Franco and America were ablp |;q' sliow them the way. He would again visit the Coast in about six weeks, and would turn the first sod of "the EossHokitika railway, which would open up a largp extent of country. He would lay before l(is cojle.ft«\ies tlie urgent necessity of Iho Ngabece-Blapkball bridge, and if they were agreeable, would have pleasure, when on the Coast, of driving tho first pile. Tho Premier receiyed a good hearing, and was repeatedly applauded. The party left amidst rpusing' pheers.