SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13940, 27 June 1907, Page 7

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

RECEPTION AT WELLINGTON,

AN INTERVIEW,

SOME IMPRESSIONS OF TIIE

OLD COUNTRY,

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

(From Ocr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 26. Tlio flags on the shipping and tlio public buildings in Wellington this morning were an indication of an event of moro than ordinary importance. There was a great display of bunting, which hung limply in tho thick grey fog, and by way of contrast the Hag at Parliament House drooped halfmast high, a token of respcct for a departed statesman, Sir John Hull. There, was somo mistake made by tho Reception Committee as to the probable hour of arrival, and members of the Ministry, somo members of both House.) of Parliament, a. number of officials, and a few ladies left iu tho Tutanckai about 7 a.m. for the purpose of meeting tho turbino steamer Mahcno, on which Sir Joseph Ward was a passenger. They had a long wait, for it was not till half-past 10 that tho two ships got together. TIIE FIRST WELCOME. Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and Miss Eileen Ward, with Mr Belcher, of the Seamen's Union, woro on. tho navigating bridgo waving handkerchiefs in response to the greetings of thoso on tho Government steamer. The Tutanekai flew tho signal "Welcome, Ward," and a number of ship's rockcts woro fired. After tho health officer's inspection tho visitors boarded tho Mahcno, and Sir Joseph and Lady Ward received a hearty wolcomo. Tho Primo Minister wab duly photographed and interviewed, and in tho rain tho Mahcno steamed up the harbour and berthed at tho main wharf at midday. There was, of course, a oall for a spcech, and Sir Joseph said a fow words thanking tho people for their welcome. A oonsidorablo crowd had gathered in spite of tlio unusually damp and dopressing woathor. Tlio Primo Minister's party drovo away amid tho cheers of tho onlookers. Sir Joseph is looking remarkably well. Indeed, ho looks better than when ho went away, A SAD NOTE, On his hurried return from tho last Postal Conferenco ho landed in Wellington under somewhat sad circumstanoe.s owing to tho reoent' death of Mr Seddon. On this occasion his home-coming has also been somewhat hurried, and tlioro is a sad noto in it owing to tho somewhat serious illness of Mr Ilall-Jonos, whom Sir Josopli left, on his departure for London in good health in tho position of Acting I'rime Minister. Ono of Sir Joseph's first acts on landing was to drive straight to tlio residence of Mr Hall-Jones and express his delight at finding his oollcaguo eo far on tho way towards recovery. A BUSY DAY. Sir Joseph has already had a very busy day. There was a long Cabinet meeting this afternoon, which occupied most of his time, but he v;as able to spare time for a fow brief interviews to the ever-present pressmen. He had not, however, anything specially new to sav regarding his Ilomo experiences, and of course it is too near the opening of tho session for him to givo away any political secrets. THE SIGHTS OF LONDON. lie managed to see a good deal of England during tho two monihs ho was (hero and several of tlio sights of London. Amongst the latter was "'Appy 'Amstoad" on a bank holiday. This year somo 70,000 costers with their "'Arricts" and other friends thronged tho heath and made merry. Girls and men changed hats and danced along the adjoining roads, stopping at. times all vehicular traffic. They stopped even the motor car of the Now Zealand Prime Minister without, oven an apology. 'Ibis, however, was all in the day's outing, and any such little inconveniences were cheerfully accepted. On the heath thoro were all sorts of amusements for tho gala crowd. Ono of the most amusing entertainments provided was that aflorded by a number of men-o'-warsmen who had gono thoro to spend the day and had been accommodated by tho costers with horses at. a penny a ride. They indulged in racing to the amusement, of the crowd, and spills, which wero not uncommon, addc-d to tlm pleasure of tho onlookers, who seemed to look upon this tie quite a natural thing for "Jack" to do.' THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, Sir Joseph met the' Primo Minister of Britain on several occasions, and always found him in the best of health and spirits, notwithstanding tho heavy responsibilities of his oflico. Tho Campbcll-Bannerinan Administration, however, hud been passing through a period of considerable anxiety. Sir Joseph Ward says tho British Government was not able to support everything that tho Primo Ministers wanted at tho Imperial Conference, hut Sir Henry Ca.tnpbell-Biinnei'man had rttprcsftid the very kindliest feelings for iho colonics, and was much interested in New Zealand, where & many of his countrymen, a jtreat ifcany of whom wero personal friends, had made their homes. Sir Joseph urged tho Prime Minister to make a visit to Now Zealand in the near future, where he was quite sure all classes would •welcome him. Sir Henry .stilted that it would givo him great pleasure to come to the colony, although he was afraid there was no immediate prospect of his able to do so. Amongst other notables Sir Joseph found " Dr Jim" a most interesting man to meet. He was a man deeply interested in knitting together tlie bom's of Empire. Though a strong-looking man Dr Jameson, for his health's sake, cschewcd banquets and functions generally, delegating the duty of attending them to his colleague, Mr Smnrt. He was, however, assiduous in looking after the interests of his colony at the conference. THE JAPANESE. Sir Joseph, of course, met many other notabilities. Amongst these was Prince Fusninii, a distinguished member of tho rcyal family of Japan. Jle is exceedingly well informed about all parts of the British Empire, and expresses great cordiality towards Grout, Britain. There can be no doubt 1 hat tlio agreement between Great; Britain and Japan has been the means of bringing about a remarkable friendship tietween these two nations, and the characteristics that have been so noted in the Japanese of recent veers of being well informed in all quarters is, in Sir Joseph's opinion, more noticeable than ever. To-day their representatives are to be found everywhere. Upon a previous visit to London Sir Joseph went over Nobel's dynamite factory, and ho there found v. number of Japanese t;oing over the premises the same day. Since that date a Nol-els dynamite factory ba.s Iwen erected in Japan. On his present visit, at the launching of the New Zealand steamer Maori at Dumbarton, Sir Josonb again met tho representatives of the Japenese Government. who were engaged to supervise tho construction of men-of-war and other steamers. Later on in the day. m journeying by steamer down Loch Long, ho met another party of Japanese, who were travelling by the same steamer for the purpose of obtaining information for their Government. The attachment to our Umpire of such an exceptionally progressive and powerful nation as Japan is. in tlm opinion of the people of Great Britain, of inestimable value to them. DISTINGUISHED SOLDIERS. Sir Jcnpii also met Earl Roborts (who was looking remarkably well) and Sir George While, ono of the most interesting of soldiers. To see him in uniform with his medals, alt won for distinguished service, is something to be remembered. Probablv there is no officer attached to the British armv who is so loaded with decorations for brilliant service done for his King and country as Sir Georgo iWliit?,

THE CONFERENCE. Sir Joseph lies already been pumped pretty dry in regard to the conference. He, however, expressed tho opinion that it would undoubtedly do a great, deal of good. Successive conferences, h« said, would take up the threads which have been woven and make for tho strengthening and upholding of British interests. .Sir Joseph \\ard was impressed by the extinordinary interest taken by all sections"~of tho community in their desire to the oversea dominions into closer touch with the Old Land, and he was c. opinion that this feeling would grow. The most sanguino advocate of preferential trade would not exjject that matter to lie brought into existence excep?- by education. Forro would be a u=eless method, Ono of tho, great questions discussed was tho.means of speedier communication between the different parts of tho Empire. At present great lgnoranoe generplly prevailed in tho Homeland respecting these states, and by haying morn frequent and rapid communication this would soon disappear. A permanence and a status had been given to tho conference, and that was a most important thing. The reception of tho delegates in the various cities was remarkable for warmtli and spontaneity, and without egotism ho said New Zealand seemed to be regarded with special nffcction everywhere ho went.