THE PREMIER AT GREYTOWN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10478, 29 April 1896, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT GREYTOWN.

<Pitu Un/ted Pjmjss Assooutioh.)

Gitßxzowx, April £8.

The Preml«t visited Grertown North to-day, and met with * tawirty reception. He wan mat at the station by ttie mayor and councillor*, leading residents, the lira brigade, kc, and there was a large attendance of the general public An addre<s of welcome was read by the mayor. Mr Beddon will to-mortow iddresn the Natives at PipawM.

In the evening Mr fieddon was entertained at a bauqnet, and nubsequtsntly delivered an addrest to a Uurga awSianoe, a Urge number of Udies being prescxi.,. Tlie mayor presided. Mr Seddon defended -rii* Government from the aspersion* attem7ii«« so be cast upon them by the Opposition, and said the lottor now admitted credit was doe to the Government for passing th« Ltud sod Income Tax, which was a just measure. Tb« Government aha carried a meature for settling the people on the land and providing for cfosu settlement, a measure which be thought the Opposition would, if it bad the power, rep<!»L He referred to many other measures which were passed by the Government which were in favour of the masses. He accused the OppoiritioD of plundering (he people of the laud. They had conslrneted and purchased political railways, and had also enriched themselves by borrowing and squandering. He quoted several instances where the Opposition cad, he said, been guilty cf passing measures in the interests of landholders. R-jferriug to the increase of the debt by 18 millions trom 1873 to 1895 he: eaid no !«<;s'than 16 millious bad be«a added by the Connervative or Vo^el Ministry. The BallanceSeddou Ministries only increased it £2,000,000. H« denied th»t the present Adminiotration injured the credit of the colony, and qootsd the price of stocks in support of this statement. The gross railway revenue for the 31st March 1896 was £1,183,040, which exceeded tbe estimate by £25,040. Referring to the alleged eitrs.vaga.nctt of the Government, he mentioned that Captain Ru«8e!l made no mention of the trip when Captain Ruesell, the Hon. Mr Fergus, Mr H. D. Bell, and others made an exploration of the North Island trunk line extending over 14 dvfs, which cast £419, and which was charged to the vote for the North Island trunk line. The proceedings were marked by great enthusiasm. The Premier received a unanimous vote of thuiks, and one of confidence in his Government was carried by acclamation.