SPEECH BY THE HON. W. HALL-JOKES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPEECH BY THE HON. W. HALL-JOKES.

CHftISTCIIURCH, April 17. The last of tho series of banquets given by tho Mayor of Christchurch (Sir John Hall) in > honour of tho prominent Exhibition visitors took place at tlie United Service Hotel last night. Mr George Payling (iJcputy Mayor) presided in the ad3(uicd of Sir John Hall through illness, and there Were about 70 guests present including Vice-admiral Sir Wilmot Fawkes, tho Acting l'rimo Minister (the Hon. \V. Hall-Jones), tho Minister of Education (the Hon. Georgo Fowlds), oversea commissioners, members, of the Christcburch City Council, and others, A number of toasts wero honoured, and the gathering was a riiost successful one.

Replying lo the toast of "Tho'Parliament of Now Zealand," tho Han. \V. HaliJones staled that the Bxhibitioh had bad an immense attendance, aijd the admissions produced a Sum of something like £53,000. Ili? estimate of tho loss, the colony Was going to sustain was about' Is per head of the population, wliich Would bo equivalent to £47,000. Ho believed, however, it would bo a litilo more than that, but even if it were. £50,000 the increased railway and Customs revenue would cover 'that amount tenfold.—(Applause.) From the educational poiiit of view alone the Exhibition was worth the money, and it would pave the way for future exhibitions. The loss ot: the Melbourne Exhibition in 1889 was about a quarter of a million, whereas the loss on tho New Zealand Exhibition was something like £50.000. New Zealand, however, had adopted the new system of conducting exhibitions under an excellent general manager—(laughter),--and it would pave the way forfiirthcr exhibitions of a similar nature, which would be held in Nov; Zealand, and which would still farther tend to bring about the reunion of the British race. The\ colony generally was prosperous, and year by year the revenue was increasing, arid this vear there would be a greater increase in the returns of the revehue-eariling departments than had ever been tho case before. The outlook v.-as hopeful, and ho did not think there would bo a falling oft' in. the prices of the inai:i products. The finances of the colony had never been in a more sound condition, and sinking funds were teing established to pay off the general debt, aiid tho money borrowed under tho Land for .Sottlomeiits Act. and to redeem the Treasury bills, teued some years ago. At the end of the present financial year, notwithstanding the transfer of £775,000 to the Public Works Fund, there would be a surplus of over half a million—(Applause.) The outlook for the Empire from the commercial point of view was, ho thought, more hopeful tllan it had ever been before in his memory. All were looking forward to the good work that was going to bo done by the Imperial Conference. It was well that the Premiers of the Ellipse should meet together to discuss tho great questions which were of momtnt to all, and ho had cohfidenee that nothing would be done to the injury of any, but that the course taken would be for the Rood of the Empire and the bsnofit of thoECg belonging to it.—(Loud applause.)

FALL FROM A TRAIN

DEATH OF MR E. M. SMITH, M.H.R NEW PLYMOUTH, April 19.

Mr Edward Metcalf Smith, M.11.8. for Taranaki, died at tho hospital to-night, tho result of tho railway accident this morning. He had been in ill-health for somo time, but felt considerably fetter this morning, and was attending to fomo business. Ho boarded tho 11 o'clock train at Eliot street for town, standing 1 on tho carriage platform.

As tho train .-was rounding a curve 110 was seen by a lottcr-currier on the road to fall between the carriages, it is presumed during a fit. of giddiness. Miraculously, ho fell between tho rails, and the wheels did not pass over, him, but lie received severe bruises and laceration of tho head and face, being dragged somo distance by tho undorgear. The accident was not noticed by anyono on the train. 1 When picked up Mr Smith was conscious, and his painful injuries were attended to on the spot, lie was subsequently removed to tho hospital in a dazed state. A protracted operation was performed to relieve the concussion, but without effect, Mr Smith succumbing in the prcsenco of his family shortly before 8 o'clock.

Mr Smith represented New Plymouth from 1891 till 1896, and Taranaki electorate from 1900 till tho time of his death. Ho was 68 years of age. Ho was one of tho pioneers of Taranaki and one of tho most enterprising spirils of that- province. Willi tho efforts to develop tho irousand industry and petroleum he had been prominently connected Tor over 40 years—indeed, almost tho wholo of his lifo and fortune wore dedicated to the former. By tho death of Mr Smith New Plymouth loses its most familiar figure.

April 20. At tho inquest on tho body of tho late Mr E. M. Srtiilh, M.H.R., to-day a verdict of " Accidental death" was returned, the jury expressing sympathy with tho bereaved wifo and family. A 1 largo number of telegrams of sympathy havo been reooived from Iho Cabinet and members of Parliament. including tho Acting Prime Minister and Mr Massoy (Leader of tho Opposition). Tho Government, has ordered a military funeral. Mr Smith served in the Imperial and colonial troops ns armourer. The Cabinet will be represented at tlie funeral by the Acting Prime Minister (tho Hon. W. Hall-Jones), tho Hon. J. Carroll, and tho Hon. !R.. M'Nab.

April 22. The late Mr K M. Smith, M.I-1.W., was buried to-day wilili full military lionomu The funeral-was the. largest over, seen in Taranaki. The Government offices and business places were plcsed from 1 o'clock and people poured in from tho country districts. It is _ estimated >that close on 10,000 ])oop!e witnessed the funeral, in which full musters of the headquarters companies, cadets, Garrison Band, and Fire, Brigade in uniform participated. Tlio pall-bearers were tho Hons. W. HMI-Joncs, Carroll, M'Nab, and Messrs Jennings, Major, and Symes, the Taranaki representatives in the 'House of Representatives. A large-number of members of both Houses of tho Legislature were present, and all tho Icoal bodies wore fully represented. Tlio cortego took 25 minutes to pass a given point. Somo hundreds of telegrams of condolence have been received from all parts of tho cnlony, also from Sir J. G. Ward (London). A large carriage was utilised to convey dozens of beautiful wreaths.