A PLEASANT FUNCTION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1534, 24 July 1901, Page 25

A PLEASANT FUNCTION

SIR JOSEPH WARD HONOURED. Tho pleasure which the recent conferment, of honours upon Sir Joseph Ward has given to all classes of the community was again exhibited on Friday at a social of the Clyde quay branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation, held at the Foresters’ Hall. The function was organised by a committee, of which Mr J. Stratford is president, Mr E. Arnold trea. surer, Mr O’Loughlin secretary-, and the arrangements were excellent. There was a very large attendance, including the Premier, the Hon. Jas. Carroll, and several members of Parliament, and leading citizens of Wellington. •During the course of the supper, at which SUr Joseph and Lady Ward were honoured guests, the toast of “Parliament” way proposed by Mr Arnold, and responded to by Mr G. Fisher, and of “The Guest of the Evening,” proposed by Mr W. McLean, and responded to by Sir Joseph Ward. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon arrived shortly after 11 o’clock, and on behalf of those assembled presented his colleague with a beautiful claret bowl and silver cigar case, both appropriately inscribed. He said that in thus honouring Sir Joseph, the Clyde quay branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation was honouring him (Mr Seddon), and his colleagues. It showed the united spirit which animated the Liberals of this country, a spirit which had been evinced in a convincing way by the result of yesterday’s election at Patea. This was a tribute in part to- Mr Edwards, the Liberal organiser, whose actions had been much criticised of late, but who as long as the results of his efforts were such as they had been in this case, need not care a jot about “the other side.” The Premier took the opportunity of saying that the statement that Sir John McKenzie had told Mr Edwards to leave the Waihemo district was wrong, because Mr Edwards was never at Waihemo when an election was being contested. At some other places where Mr Edwards had been, however, there were people who would have been glad if he had staved away. He regretted to say that Mr Edwards’s health was impaired, and the bitterness which had been exhibited against him ought to make the men and women of the colony more determined to stand together to promote the well-being of the colony and the welfare and prosperity of its people. The Premier referred to the splendid ■way in which Sir Joseph Ward had succeeded in living down the evil reports of his traducers, and to the warm approval with which his knighthood had been received in all parts of the colony, and concluded by making the presentation. Sir Joseph Ward, who was accorded an ovation, heartily thanked those present for their valuable and tangible expression of good will. He resognised that there were those who on principle objected to titular distinctions, and he, of ' course, respected their views, but over and against that he had been overwhelmed with congratulations from public bodies and private people from one end of the colony to the other. Like his friend and chief, Mr Seddon, and his colleagues, he recognised the importance and solemnity of the trust which had been placed in them by the people of the colony, and whatever happened the present administration would continue to advocate and put on the statute book measures for the benefit of the masses •f the people. He thanked the Clyde quay branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation on behalf of himself and bis wife for their handsome gifts, and assured them that the honour which had been conferred upon him could not affect the very cordiAl relations which had always existed between himself and the donors. He invited those present to accept the invitation of himself and Lady Ward to take tea with them on lawn at his house on the afternoon of Saturday week. Cheer®>were given at the call of the Premier for Mr Stratford, and the committee of the Clyde quay organisation; and dancing was resumed.