THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5600, 29 May 1905, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

HIS TOUR IN OTAGO. , PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, May 28. On Saturday morning tho Premier left Naseby and proceeded to Ophir, stopping on the way at Roughhridge, where he opened the curling season by throwing a couple of curling-stones. Deputations waited on tho Premier on the subject of water conservation, and also on the subject of Thompson’s Gorge road, which, if made, would enable Lake Wanaka to be reached in one day from Dunedin. Ophir was reached at 6 p.m., and two hours later the Premier addressed a public meeting in the schoolhouse, which was crowded. Mr Seddon pointed out that the goldfields of Otago had helped the colony fifty years ahead of what it would have been ias an agricultural and pastoral country. He thought a mistake was made in not having a record of those bustling days. The Premier went on to deal with the finances and prosperity of the colony. Yet with things as they were, it was said there should be a change of Government! Ho intimated that ho would again introduce the Local Government Reforih Bill, as there were too many local bodies- He declared that air Massey was no Liberal, and never was, and his works proved it. Dealing wk“ the increase of population, Mr Seddon stated that, including Maoris and tne Pacific Islanders, the total was 903,2 b!;. He went on to show how country residents had benefited by the railway and other concessions, and in this connection he thought a concession should bo given on timber on the Otago Central lino. In addition to helping settlers there, it would help the settlers in the Catlins district. The Premier spoke for two and a half hours.

A vote of thanks to the Premier and continued confidence in the Government was carried. The mover said lie would like to see i giant monument erected to Mr Seddon. He believed in erecting a monument in honour of a man before he - was dead, so that the man would know people appreciated him and his works.

The Premier, in addition to speaking at Roxburgh, Lawrence, and Kaitangata next week, will also speak at Mosgiel, Tapanui, Palmerston South, Duntroon, and Oamaru.