THE PAELIAMENTAEY PICNIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12639, 17 April 1903, Page 5

THE PAELIAMENTAEY PICNIC.

OFF TO THE ISLAOTS. ' (From 'Ons Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 16'. In tlie midst of a tropical downpour as heavy as any they are likely to experience in the South Pacific, members of Parlia-, ment assembled on the Mapourika- this morning to take their departure, via Auokland, for "the- Cook and other islands." * There has been some delay in starting the expedition owing to faulty riveting in one of the boilers in the steamer. No sooner had everything heen got ready for a. start than steam was found to be hissing through in a place where it ought not to hiss.' These premonitory symptoms of complaint • wore taken by the ultra-critical as being symbolical of tho complaint of the taxpayers at the needless expenditure that is being incurred in giving the handful of members am extended pleasure jaunt so far beyond the confines of New Zealand. Whether or not this noiso of hissing steam is really a pre-, monition of tho storm of criticism that is likely to arise on the termination!of the trip this deponent sayotli not, but it.de-, layed tho start, and gave tho agents and the engineers an anxious timo. Firos. hadl to be drawn, steam blown off, and, boilers emptied before the defective riveting .could . be attended to. This meant working day and night; but eventually when stream,was • got up once more all was found to be tight and true. In one respect the excursion is already a failure, for very few members' are taking advantage of it. Of the people's representatives there are only some 25 all ■ told out of l a total of 80, and the great majority are Government supporters— viz.: Messrs K. G. Allen, Arnold, Barber,- Field, Fisher, i<latman, Fowlds, Hanan, Houston,Lawry, Major, Mills, O'Meara, Parata, Wi Pore, Willis, Wood, and Sir W. J. Steward. The Opposition members are Messrs J. Allen, W. Fraser, Thomas Mackenzie, Moss, ■ J. C. Thomson,. J. W. Thomson, and Vile. A few members of the Legislative Council are also making the trip—viz.: The Hons. ' A. Baldey, W. M. Bolt, C. C. Bowen, B. Harris, W. F. 0. Carncross, J. E. Jenkiri-" son, D. Pinkerton, J. Rigg, T. Thomson, H, K. Tomoana, and James Marshall. A , brightly written account of this historic cruise would no doubt furnish interesting reading, but, alas! press correspondents have been barred. There are, however, some five or six photographers on board. Mr Keid, who so ably photographed the Premier and: tho Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York on tho royal tour, goes to represent, the Government in a similar capacity on this occasion. Tho other photographers include a representative of the Otago Witness. It is an open secret that one or two of the photographers will write some ao-' count of the journeyings of the parliamentary pilgrims:. Even here, ho'wevei 1 , Md 1 Seddon has insisted on a certain press censorship, and it is an understood thing that the articles are to have no political significance, 'and that ordinary tittle-tattle will not be indulged in by the amateur scribes.Tho Government photographer is taking no fewer than 500 plates with him, and the 1 other photographers aro taking each from two to three gross with them, so- that the > pictorial record of the trip will make amends for the want of a more minute de- • seriptive and historical chronicle. The excursionists will not lack for entertainment,,, as a professional pianist has been employed by the Government, and a pianola will be taken on. board at, Auckland,. w that if the pianist by any .chance, .in this -, rough woather should lie abed with all his ; musio in him the more lively excursionists will be able to grind out their own musio. The pianola, no doubt, will also help to astonish the natives in' some of the less frequented summer isles of Eden, to whioh only the concertina and the' JcWs harp have as yet penetrated. To further please and mollify the inhabitants of Karotonga, Savage Island, and the Fijis, tho Hon, Mr .Mills is taking with him a supply of photographs and trinkets as presents to some of the leading chiefs. One Legislative .Councillor has taken with him a bagatelle table, and it is understood that the providoring department of the Union Company has put on board, an unlimited supply of soda water and ice, so that altogether members will be able to pass the time pleasantly' in the langourous sunshino of the tropio seas. In Captain Crawshaw the excursionists have a, host in himself. He knows .his islands'well, and when ho dons his white-covered cap and short white tropio jacket he looks the living image of the famous Captain Kettle: In fact he is now known in the fleet as Captain Kettle, and he is.said to-be rather proud. of the compliment. The other day a letter arrived at one of the company's. branches addressed to " Captain 0.. Kettle, U.S.S. Company." Tho clerk wKo dealt with tho correspondence, not knowing any, skipper of that name, sont the letter into the manager, who instantly wrote across tha envelope, "Try Captain Crawßhaw," and the letter was promptly dolivered $o its rightful owner. But Captain Kettle or no Captain Kottle, the friends and relatives of the excursionists can rest assured that no danger will come to tho Mapourika's valuable cargo so long as Captain Crawshaw is on deck. He know 9 the Northern Seas, and. he knows how to navigate his ship, Mr Seddon had a few parting words to say to liim before bis departure. " Look bore now, Captain," he said, "you hold the Government in the hollow of your hand. They aro nearly all Government men who are going with you, and there are very few, of the Opposition, and moreover there will be more talked about and written about this trip than any other in the history of .the colony. They will even want you to lay your log,on the tablo of the House." Thereupon Captain Crawshaw showed Mr Seddon his private log, and our' jovial Premier had a hearty laugh over some of tho quaint entries writ therein by our New Zealand. Captain Kottle. Mr Hall-Jones "and Mr M'Gowan and Sir Joseph Ward, with a: pleasant word for everybody, were down to say good-bye to their parliamentary frionds.and foes, and to Mr Mills, who, as ambassador-in-chief and envoy extraordinary on behalf of New Zealand to the dusky potentates of tho South Seas, was already beginning to wear a somewhat serious and preoccupied look. There can be no doubt, nowever, that Mr. Mills will pull through all right-, and that under his leadership and the able seamanship of Captain Crawshaw tho excursionists will have a jolly time. Personally I wish them all a pleasant cruise and a safe return.