MR SEDDON IN ENGLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12414, 25 July 1902, Page 7

MR SEDDON IN ENGLAND.

FETED AND LIONISED. THE NATIONAL PURSE. (Fsou Our Own Corresjoxdent.) LONDON, June 21. Mr and Mrs Seddon and their two daughters arrived at Southampton last Saturday early in tho morning. Lord Onslow, on behalf of the Colonial Oiiiee, went down to Southampton to meet tiie New Zealand Premier, and diily boarded tho Saxon on her arrival from the Cape, as also did the Mayor of Southampton. Mr K. M. Kcnnaway (representing the Agent-general of New Zealand) and Mr John Holmes were also among thoso who travelled down to meet your Premier. So Mr Seddon received a prompt and hearty welcome on reaching tho Mother Country. Unfortunately, tho cordiality did not extend to tho weather, which was wet, cold, gloomy, and cheerless in the extreme. Mr and Mrs Seddon and their party came- up to London by the London and South-Western Boat Special, and on reaching the Waterloo terminus were mot by several New W Undors, headed by {ho Agent-general, all of whom were most cordial in their greetings The party drovo at once to the Hotel Cecil' where a suito of rooms had been secured. ' ilr Seddon on Monday attended the review at Aldershot; in tho evening ho was Lord Onslow's guest, first at dinner and then at Her Majesty's Theatre, where Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor" was being played. Later in tho evening ho came to Mr and Mrs P.eevcs's reception at the Imperial Institute, to which I refer elsewhere.

On the day after Mr Scddon's arrival th« sentinels on guard at the Hotel Cecil were chosen'from tho New Zealand Contingent, -this provided tho basis of the following story, told by the Manchester Guardian ;- ' What aro you men doing here?" asked a relent »t the hotel of one of the troopers. ( Well, it's this way," answered the man; our old man, Dick Seddon, is stopping in. side, and an he sometimes gets too communicative to ploaso Mr Chamberlain tho War Office has sent us, in the interests of Imperial peace, to head off reporters. Aro you in the newspaper line, sir?" , With referencei to the distinct statement cabled from Wellington to The Times, of London, that a purse of 5500 eovereigns had been presented to Mr Seddon in recognition ot his public services in connection with tiie war, the following di-elaimer has been ißued:-"air Seddon requests Router's Agency to state that before his denarture rom New Zealand a report, which he finds lips also gamed currency on this side, was circulated to tho effect that he had beeii presented with a sum of money in rccognition of Ins services to tho Empire. This report is unfounded. The presentation which actually took place was that of an illuminated address, signed by some 20,000 Now Zealandors. As a matter of fact, there was a movement in tho colony for presenting tho Premier with a sum of money, but at his request it was not proceeded with." Tins story has gone the round of tho British papers, and (a-, I remarked in a former letter) hid the effect of creating some revulsion of feeling towards Mr Seddon. It would be interesting to know how this re-port-now alleged to be absolutely un-' fovmdcd-pame to be cabled to The Times authoritatively, and thus obtained an extent of credence and circulation which otherwise iv might not .have secured. A\ /i IIO T, C . ivn servicc dimicv !tt 9t Friday night the Prince of Wales said: "I hoped to havo joined with you in welcoming my M tn IH .^ nnoX! '', Yes: "Mr friend Sum mi v- w s °°V " a * oav w<" added the Prince. "I was his t b Hoiorua, in New Zealand, where I saw the wonderful gathering of 4000 Maoris " .One experience in Cane Colony was as follows:-' Entering the hosnital at Klerksaorp unannounced, a voice cried out, 'Hollo! Mr Seddon; u that you?' 'Why, do you know mo my tad?" 'I should think so, intleetl; but wo never expected to see you hero. Then the visitors sat down by the patients, heard their story, took l'>e addresses of parents, sweethearts, or friends t"l aft l7 1 rI (1 ( S 1 Wl ; ote t0 sa 5' tow the men were. At Potehefstroom was a young lad Whose feet had been badly smashed in a railway accident, and the doctor hinted that Jh e nuf°°"n ] ?T, wns suffl?rin ? from mehnvy' ,„r a , ust t,lou not minister to a mind aiseased? he virtually asked. Mr Seddon Jsa* .v B coul . , ttoin S t 0 the bedside ho said: Never mind the loss of your feet, my lad, the New Zealand Government will take care of yo„ for tho rest of your life.' Next clay th ?i doctor: reported that the Premiers' visit had done' the poor fellow more good than any physjc could have effected/ Air heddon is proud of tho colony's troops. He modest y thinks they understand Boer tae tics better than we did. One of their offi-cere-Captain Davics-/-eceived orders to take M« men up a certain spruit and dear out the Hoers. The captain guessed that the Boers had chosen positions to pick off his men. therefore he did not go up the spruit; but round a lull leading to the head of it, a „d cleared off the Boers right merrily. His suspicions were confirmed. They had a Maxim m position, and would have ki'lr-d or wounded half his men. ' Now,' he said ' I suppose I shall bo court-martialled for 'disobeying orders.' But, of course, he was

Naturally after travelling 3000 miles in a week ,n South Africa, .Air Seddon and his party were _fatigued, but the rest on the voyage to Southampton apuenrs to have done then, a lot of good. Mr Saddon is in fairy good health, though ho is suffering a little from an attack of influenza, which lie contracted at tho Cape, and also from a fell which l:e had on tho Drayton Grange after seeing the 'rescued sailor? of tho Dutch ship sunk m the Indian Ocean. Mrs Seddon's health, however, has not been so good. She also had an attack of influenza, and on arrival here was so far indisposed that the invitation to spend last Sunday with Lord and Lady Onslow imd to be passed over. The Misses Seddon are well, as al<o are Mr T. Hnmcr and Mr F. U Thomson. Mr Soduon's secretaries-, though they are rather hard worked just now On Saturday after arriving at (l, e Hotel Leal, Mr Seddon w.v extensively interviewed. Ho also received a deputation from the Lancashire Society, who presented Mrs beck on with a bouquet of Lancaster roseshe historic_ ilowov. Sunday was-spout chiefly hv Mr Seddon in receiving callers, among those whom he saw being Mr J. Catheart Mason, MP and Mr Snymour Thorne Ucorge, of Auckland. Monday morning, with the exception of about one hour and alialf in the City on colonial business; Mr Seddon spent at the hotel, afterwards lieinw the guest of Lord Onslow, and later attend! m « the reception of Mr and Mrs Reeves. On Tuesday Mr Seddon went to the Royal Review at Aldershot, and attended the \ o w Zealand dinner in tho evening. On Wcdncstlnv ho visited the colonial contingents at the Alexandra Palace, Mr Hamcr be.ino- with mm. Later, at tlio invitation of .Mr Chamberlain, he visited the Colonial Office, where he was met by Lord Onslow. He then attended the Leather Scllen' dinner, and n, tillable to keep engagements at (lie Royal Society and Royal Geographical Soc-c'ty. On lhursday afternoon Mr and Mrs Seddon and their family were at Lord Salisbury's reception at Hatfield, and vcrferday Mr S«l----<.on dined with Mr anil Mrs Chamberlain, afterwards going on to a ball given by the Lenchcrs of the Inner Temple to join' Mr. Seddon and his daughters; the latter were present earner in the evening at the Royal gonial Inslitnle conversazione To-day Mr and Mrs Seddon, logcther with orlior colonial Premiers and tlreir friend,, will he entertained by Lord and Lady Ha-! rowhr at Sandon Hall. Tuesday "is set apart for a visit to Stoke and the Potteries and in tho evening Mr Chamberlain wi'li pivea dinner and evening party at I'i'incr? (.anions. On June. 25. tho Premier* will •lie. entertained at dinner hv (lie Prince of Wales at York House. On' tho 2Mb, ?,7th and 28th, the c'avs will be devoted lWpcr! tivcly to tho Coronation, the procession through London, and the naval review. On the 30th the Premiers will altcml (be State performance at tho onera, or a repr«. sontntioii of David Garrick at WvmlhanVs J hoatre. On July 1 they will he present at the Windsor Garden party, and in (be evening ' will attend' a" banquet at the Inner Temple Hall, followed hv recep. tious hy the Marquess of Lanstlowiie at Lansdownc House, and by Lord Strathcona at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water-colours.

On July 2 the British Knipirc League will give a water parly on the Upper Thames, with luncheon and tea at Tnnlmv Court, ■the residence of Mr W. IT. f.'rrnfcll, M.l'., and in (Im eveiiiii« a vififc will be paid l.i Her Maje?iy's Theatre, the performance nf the ''Merry Wives of Windsor" being followed by a, reception, on the staijp, by Mr and Mrs Hocrb»lim Tree. On duly 3 Hie Premier? rill attend the luiieh?oii to bs Riven to iho Kin» and (Jnon at Uic Guildball, and in the cyeninpr they will attend iho Lyceum, where a retention will ho pven by Sir Henry 'Irving." On .luly 1 there will be a fete at the Botanic Gardens, with a luncheon by the Ifon. Mrs William West, at which several royal nersounses will b" urgent. ; ,ud in the owning; Mr 'Gilbert 1 avker. M.P., v.il! give n private dinmr iwrty at Carlton ]-!.m--c. Terrace. Mr Wilfrid Hunt and Lady Anna Blunt will rive,

a luncheon and garden party on tlio sth of July in connection with the sale of Arab horses at Brabbot Park. The colonial Premiere will be present. On the 7th thoy will attend the- annual meeting of the British Empiro League, over which the Duke of Devonshire will preside, and in tho evening they will be entertained at a banquet by the Constitutional Club. On July 9 they will go to Ranelagh, where they will bo entertained to luncheon by the club, followed by an exhibition of polo by the'colonial forces, and in the evening they will bo entertained nfc dinner by the Fishmongers' Company at Fishmongers' flail, rim Premiers will go to Henley on (ho 10th of July, where they will be entertained at luncheon, at Fawley Court, by Mr Mackenzie, and in tho evening Mr R. A.'Vnrburgh. M.P. (president of the Navy lioaiuie), will give a dinner party to meet representatives interested in defence questions, followed by an entertainment In- the British I'-mpirc League and the Victoria League to the officers of forces representing British dominions beyond the seas. On flic 11th there will be an Empire Coronation banquet at the Guildhall, which will be i)re=ided over by Mr Chamberlain. On tho Hth tlie Premiers will be entertained by tho National Liberal Club, and a concert will bo riven by Jlr R. A. Yorburgh, M.P., at Kensington Uore. Mv Seddon tells ro-a that it is his intention before leaving England to rait Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Ho also intends to visit some of the largo manufacturing towns. Ho has definitely fixed to go to St. Helens, his birthplnoo, this clay week staying there over tho Monday lor tho wosonration of the freedom of the borough.