FAREWELL TO THE PREMIER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10414, 12 April 1897, Page 5

FAREWELL TO THE PREMIER

A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL. MR. SEDDON'S COMMERCIAL MISSION. [by telegraph.—press association.] Wellington, Sunday. With tho object o! taking a personal leave of the Premier before the termination of the session of Parliament, the members of both Houses resolved to geb up a "social," to congratulate him on his mission to represent the colony at the celebrations of Her Majesty's record year. This function took placo last night in Bellamy's. The Speaker (Sir Maurice O'Rorke) occupied the chair. Captain Russell and a considerable number of the Opposition were present. Tho committee had resolved time the leave taking should be private, so that no detailed report of the speeches can be given. Sufficient, however, has been made public to justify the statement that tho gathering successfully fulfilled the object in view. Nearly all the members of the Legislative Council wore present with their Speaker. The Opposition found in ib an occasion to recognise the public capacity in which Mr. Soddon was going to Europe. There were one hundred and twenty-eighb members of both Houses present. The usual loyal toasts—" Tho Queen," "The Prinooof Wales,"and "The Koyal Family"—wore given, and received with all the honours due.

Sir Maurice O'Rorke was entrusted with the toast " The Guest of the Evening." In proposing Mr. Seddon's health he gave a brief history of his Parliamentary career, and referred to the circumstances of his accession to office and his successs as a Minister of the Crown.

The Premier, in returning thanks, mentioned several of the matters outside his more special mission to represent) tho colony which he intended to bring before the Secretary of State for tho Colonies. Those had for their object to facilitate trade betweon the colonies and dependencies of the Crown. Ho miid ho would have much communication with the commercial classes, and would take every occasion to bring before thorn the great necessity Ihoro was for rapid transit, the lowering of freights and passenger faros, and the supply of the great produce markets from New Zealand. Ho indicated the methods he proposed to employ in ordor to bring those important subject* before those who would be concernod in the distribution of trade and manufacture throughout tho Empire. The leave-taking in this form lasted from eight o'clock to eleven o'clock.