MR WARD IN LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10359, 14 May 1895, Page 6

MR WARD IN LONDON.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.)

London, March 29,

The New Zealand event of the week—in fact the only New Zealand event in an exceptionally dull week—has been the reception given by the Agent-general and Lady Perceval " to meet Mr and Mra Ward." It passed off with remarkable eclat, in spite of somewhat adverse weather, there boing a stiff N.W. gale all day, with occasional showers. The stormy elements did not keep away colonists and ex-colonists, or, at any rate, many of them were nofc deterred, for some 300 people assembled during the afternoon at the Imperial Institute, where the reception was held from 4 to 6.30. Sir Westby and Lady Perceval received in what is known as fche Australasian Conference Room at the Institute, which was suitably arranged for the purpose. Mr and Mrs Ward stood near at hand, and the introductions wore very numerous. There was a great desire on the part of many persons other than New Zealanders to meet the young Treasurer, of whose abilities report has spokeu in high terms, wholly apart from questions of agreement with his policy or dissent from it. And the facb that this was the ficflt visit of himself and his wife to. the world's metropolis associated special interest with the occasion. Sir George Bowen, your ex-Governor, was one of the earlier arrivals, accompanied by hi 3 daughter. "• He looked very aged ahd somewhat infirm, bat is still a wonderfully handsome old man. He walked about rather slowly and feebly, chatting freely; but his hearing is much impaired, and this is rather an obstacle to conversation. Mies Bowen is a fine-looking girl, reminding •me strongly of her mother, .Lady Bowod, as I knew her in New. Zealand many yeara ago.

Then Sir George Grey soon turned up, looking very bright and cheerful,'though he did nofc seem in the best of health or any too strong. He conversed with numbers of people with all his accu-tomed. charm and interest, and seemed genuinely pleased to meet several more recently arrived New Zealanders': whom he had no'; previously fallen in with. Sir George was accompanied by his nieces, the Misses Campbell. A third New Zealand notability who soon put in an appearance was Sir Julius Vogel, who I thought was looking very well and more cheerful th&n the last time I met him, when he was still almost crushed by the sad loss of his son. It has evidently done him much good to have his other son, Mr H. B. Vogel, home with him, and he speaks with great pleasure'of the comfort it has beea to him. Lady Vogel was not well enough to be present. Most of the other Agents-general were present, as well as a large sprinkling of English and colonial notabilities. , , It would occupy to much/space to give a complete list of all who were there. I will confine myself to mention of the New Zealanders'and ex-colonists of New Zealand'whom I personally noticed as being present. Among.these were, in addition to Sir Wesfcby and Lady Perceval and'Mr and Mrs Ward, Sir George Bowen and Mis_ Bowen, Sir George Grey, Sir Julius Vogel, Mr Walter Kennxway, C.M.G., Mrs, and Miss Kcnnaway, Mr George Beetham, Mrs'F. Fitchett, Mr Austin, C.E.,. and Misses Austin, Mr L. Rolleston, Mr Gibson, Mr Randolph Mainwaring, Mr E. Montague Nelson, Mr W. A. Low, Messrs Dawes (2), Mr H. J. Gibbs, Mr H. M. Paul, Mr G. Cowie, Mr R. Maxwell. Mr A. Sclanders, Mr Kirkley-Campbell, Mr O'Hallorau, Mr and Mrs Henry Reynolds, Mr T. M. Jackson, Mrs W. G. Kemp and Miss Kemp, Mrs, AY. P. Tanner and the Misses Tanner, Mrs and Miss Baker, Mr Harrison Davis, Mr W- Weddel, Mr S. Lowe, 'Messrs.'Watson.-'(2), Mr Andrews (general manager Bank of New Zealand), Mr Tegetmeier, Mr and Miss BrodieHoare, Mrs Perceval Johnston, Mrs Strickland, Mr Arthur Clayden, Captain Crutchley, R.N.R., Mr Faithfull Begg, Mr R. Hunt, Mr Gerald Harper, General: Stewart,' Mr John Ross, Mr and' Mrs.'Anson, Mr , and Mrs Farmer, Mr M'Cosh Clark, Mr S. W Silver, Mr L. C. Nevill, Dr Griffin, Mr and Mrs Wray Palliser, Mr -and Mrs J. A. Mason; Mr J. Macandrew, Captain and Mrs Ashby, Mr A. D. Willis, M'H.R., Mr J. H. Witheford, Mr and Mrs C. R. Valentine, Mr Freyberg, Mr J. Petrie; and doubtless there were others whom I was unable to detect in the crowd.

Mr Huddart was there, and I noticed him in earnest conversation wifch Mr Ward. Naturally the colloquy between the New Zealand Post-master-general and the great mail steamship contractor excited attention and conjecture, but I 'believe as ._, fact they were only talking about ihe weather. : Everything, passed off pleasantly, Sir- Wesfcby and • Lady Perceval ■ were an admirable host and hostess, and. people generallya were sociable and chatty. All seemed happy and enjoying themselves. , There was a capital band in the-corridor, and excellent refreshments were available in the tea-room. The company did not separate until long past 6 o'clock. ■ Mr Ward and Sir Westby Perceval went on Tuesday to inspect the cable steamer Monarch, lying afc Woolwich, and subsequently lunched onboard. The visit was of course in view of; the intended purchase of a suitable steamer for New. Zealand cable-repairing purposes as well asforlighthouse and despatch vessel work in place of the old Hinemoa and-Stella. Mr Ward expects to-get a useful vessel at a price not excessive. Later they went by invitation over Messrs Siemens's celebrated electric machinery workE, and saw everything that there was to be seen. ...'.-..„

Mr Ward had a long interview with Lord Ripph, by invitation, at the Colonial Office yesterday morning.