THE PREMIER IN THE SOUTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 306, 1 December 1906, Page 4

THE PREMIER IN THE SOUTH.

INVETiaVRGIIX. Friday. Sir Joseph Ward opened the Otautau Post Office this afternoos., I and in the evening ho was tender!ed a public reception by the ci-ti-izer.fi Of Invercargill in the Municipal Theatre, when 110 U'ftfi pi'GSfflltled with an illuminated eulogistic 1 address. In the course ol his speech Sir J. G. Ward said that (since April, £1,000,000 of C.overn- ! ment debentures had fallen duo, ! and the whole had boon renewed on very satisfactory terms. There was £750,000 due on Saturday (next, an<l the greater portion had already beon assumed. By Saturi dav it would all be renewyd. Holders outside of New Zealand were paying a premium 01" 2 per cent. ' for the right of renewal. Keg-ard-)ine the million loan authorised, ithis year, £900,000 had boen subscribed, and the other £100,000 which ihe Government coukl have got outside the colony if it had wished, was being taken up by over-counU-r sales at 4 per cent, at par, wHih a currency of five years. The total amount involved was £3,7r>0,7(10. of which £3.050,000 ■had been arranged for without any puhlifcitv or fuss. A ! s Colonial Treasurer he" felt particularly happy, and the colony should be well satisfied. Sir J. 0. Ward also said that the colour line would have to be discussed at the Colonial Conference in regard to the necessi ty Of keeping the coloiiji clear of tho yellow peril.