THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11857, 8 January 1902, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

A LUNCHEON SPEECH. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

- Greyiiouth, Tuesday. The Premier, Mrs. Seddon, and party left this morning by overland train for Christchurch. A party of friends accompanied them as far as Otira. On arrival at Otira the Premier met Mr., Bogue, the American, engineer, and will confer with him re the route for the line. At a luncheon, in responding to the toast of his health, the Premier said he had never seen the Coast so prosperous and the people so happv and contented. There was a ■great futurg, before the Coast when the coal measures weie developed and communication was opened by rail to Christchurch. He hoped that he would be Premier when he could leave Greymouth after breakfast and have supper in Christchurch. He felt confident that the problem of getting the line through would be satisfactorily overcome, and that the completion of the work would not be far distant. He said he was too far advanced in years to seek fresh fields. He was contented and happy m New Zealand, which he was proud to say was in a prosperous state. The output of cold from the Coast this year was the largest since 1871, and when proper dredges were got to work the industry would largely increase. He felt the strain of the .last 10 years, and nature could not long hold out under the pressure. He would need to slacken down. The Government had done a wise thing in bringing Mr. Bogue to report on the line, and he did not think the engineers of the colony would take it as a slight. The timber industry required more care, for if the present way of getting timber, out. was continued there would soon bo no timber at all. The present system of education was good, but they must go in for technical education as Germany, France, and America were able to show them the way. What was wanted on the Coast was means of communication so that tourists could see the wonders of the Coast. He would again visit the Coast in about six weeks, and would turn the sod of the RossHokitika railway, which would open up a large extent of country. He would lay before his colleagues the urgent necessity for the Ngapare-Blackball- bridge, and if they were agreeable he would have the pleasure when on the Coast of driving the first pile. The Premier received a good hearing, and was repeatedly applauded. The party left with the good wishes of all amidst hearty cheers. , ,: . . Wellington, Tuesday. - i At Christchurch the Premier will meet Sir J. G. Ward, and he is expected to arrive here on Thursday.

On December 23 Alfred Carman, an apprentice of the ship Macquarie, fell down the hold of that vessel at Sydney;: breaking his right wrist and injuring, one of his ankles.. : He was admitted to Sydney Hospital, i ■ "