MINISTERIAL VISIT TO SOUTHLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 8

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO SOUTHLAND

(Br Our Special Reporters.) WYNDHAM, February 1. VISIT TO RIYERTON. The Ministerial party, comprising the Premier, the Hons. J. M'Eenaie, J. G. Ward, W. C. Walker, and the Hon. Messrs Feldwick and Twomey, M.L.C.'s, Messrs Flatman, Hanan, Gilfedder, M'Nab, and four reporters, left, Invercargill this morning at half-past 9 o'clock for Riverton and Otautau. On arrival at the former place, the member for the dUlvict (Mr Gilfeddan introduced the mayor (Mr Durbridge) and the borough councillors to the Ministerial party. Immediately afterwards a deputation ol Natives requested the Premier to make arrangements to allow them to go to the Mutton Bird Islands by steamer. A few people in the district were prepared to guarantee the co=t of the mution birders to the island. Mr Seddon advised the deputation to put their request in writing and forward it to him. He was prepared to wipe everything off the slate and to make a fresh start, and, seeing that the livelihood of some of the Natives depended on the industry, he could say tho Government would be prepared to offer every facility to them. At AL'Lood's Hotel, where light refreshments were served, the Premier read the following telegram he had just received from the officer commanding the second contin gent: — "Albany. — Officers and men and horses arrived safe and well, and mucn pleased with your cable re third contingent; also Captain Hayhurst's good-bye, and every one's greetings to the third contingent. — Cil VDOCK." The party were then driven round the town, and on the way the mayor pointed out to the Premier the Maori Kaik, which the borough i.s anxious to obtain as a harbour endowment. "VISIT TO OTAUTATT. At Otautau, which was reached about 1 o'clock, a splendid reception was accorded the party. They were welcomed by Mr Joseph Swap, on behalf of the Otauta.u Town Board, and by Mr Henry Hirst, ex-M.H.R., on be half of the Wallace County Council, and after a visit to the school, where they were welcomed by Mr R. Seather, a member of the school committee, an adjournment was made to the Town Hall, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. The tables, at which about 250 persons seated themselves, were laden with fruit and light edibles. When the party had been fully regaled with the good things, a shore toas>t list was disposed of. The parly had little time to spend in the district, so that everything had to be kept very fine. Mr Swap, who occupied the chair, proposed the loyal toasts, after which came the toast of " 'lho Parliament and Ministry. 1 ' Mr Seddon, on rising, was received with vociferous cheers. He regretted the party had so little time to spend in the district — a district that he regarded as very important. All the signs of prosperity he noticed around led him to tho conclusion that the next time a Ministerial party visited Otautau a much larger hall would have to be provided. — (Ap plause.) Touching on political questions, he said he was delighted to know that the people of the country had again given the Alinistry their unbounded confidence. It was at one time said that the Government were playino. to win the country by means of the cheap money scheme and by means of the encouragement fiey offered to the dairy industry, and also by means of their land settlement policy. Well, why should they not? It stood to reason that if the farmers were prosperous that meant progress, and progress to every part of the colony. — (Applause.) And while they had the support of the countiy districts, it was evident they were also held in favour in the towns. In the last Parliament there were only three recognised Government supporters from the four large centres, but in the new Parliament Dunedin would have three Government supporters as its representatives, Christchurch two, Wellington one. and Auckland two. That showed conclusively that in the towns the Government had the almost unanimous confidence of the people. They had been accased, as a Government, of lacking culture; but it must be remembered that culture did not infer originality of thought or constructive ability. What did they find? They found that the bulk of the progress of the country had been brought about by the shepherd of the hills in one direction — (applause), — and by the telegraph boy- — as someone had called him — in another direction. — (Enthusiastic applause.) As for himself, he was a nondescript. — (Laughter.) At any rate, New Zealand had shown the older countries of the world the line of progressive legislation they should follow, and many of them were following it. — Applause.) He thanked them very hearitly for the response they had made to the toast. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie, who was received with loud cheers, was very plensed to see the great improvement that had taken place in the district since his last visit. If anything was wanted to prove the extent of that improvement they could find it in the fact that such a large gathering as was before him had seen their way in the middle of the day, in a busy season, to leave their respective tasks to attend the festivity, and he thought he could claim that during the nine years that he had been in office he had not neglected Southland in the way of roads and bridges and land settlement. — (Hear, hear.) It was all very well to indulge in high falutin political talk, but the real policy for the country was to give opportunities for settlement, and to spread the people through the parts of the country that were now lying unproductive. He thanked them sincerely for the toast, and cxpi'e=sed the hope that he would be shortly able to visit tho district again, and so personally note its requirements. — (Applause.) The Hon. Mr Ward, who was received with cheers, which were continued for a couple of minutes, congratulated the people of tho district on the magnificent way in which they had received the Ministerial party. When it was intimated that the Premier and his colleagues would visit Invercargill, Mr Gilfedder immediately expressed a. desire that the party should come to his district in order that they might meet the people- of Otautau, and he could assure them it was a great pleasure for them to visit the locality. — (Hear, hear.) He .might say he was directly associated with that branch of the public service that would be of great benefit to the people of the country districts — the Railway department. Producers were deeply concerned in its policy and in the development of cheap freights to foreign markets, and also the cheap money scheme ; and, as one who had had some experience, ho said that with cheap

money, cheap railway freights, and cheap freights to foreign markets, backed up by an, able and industrious community as they had" in New Zealand, no one could prevent thai future of the colony proving a bright and! prosperous one. — (Loud applause.) This dis^ trict, he might say, was specially interested! in the troubles now going on in South Africa,having sent the son of one of their settlers to fight for the Empire, of which they were so proud. — (Applause.) For himself, he hoped the war would soon end. In the interests of New Zealand, he trusted it would; speedily terminate. But whether it terminated soon or not the final outcome was bound to be in the interests of the Empire. The son? of New Zealanders who had already gone there had shown they possessed the pluck and grit and determination and fearlessness io fight side by side with the Imperial troops* and in so doing they had spread a lustre and; a glory on the whole of the people of this young country. — (Applause.) He wished, in concluding his remarks to congratulate the people ot the district on the magnificent turn-oiit they had made that day, and to the ladies who had provided the tumptuous spread before them. He had to <-ay their efforts had been fully and liberally appreciated. — (Loud applause.) The Hon. Mr Walker expressed his pleasure at visiting the district for the first time, andf he hoped it would not be his last. It was a district that only required to be seen to bo appreciated, and he was told it had made such advances within the last few years that every encouragement was given to those who had chosen it for their homes. — (Applause.) As Minister of Education he was plensed to see tho children of the school, and on that subjefc he might be allowed to say that in order to t;ivc equal opportunities to all, the Government -would lo^o no oportunity of developing the present system of State education in such, a way as would improve the educational facilities for the children of the country. — (Applause.) No Slate was doing its duty to its j r cung citizens unless it put in their hands as good weapons for carrying out their life ss other nations poFsessed. He trusted, therefore, the Government would .never cease to do their bes'. to develop the educational system in every direction which experience j)roved to be necessary. — (Applause.) He thanked them most sincerely for the kind welcome extended to the party that day, and he also wished to thank the Hon. Mr Ward and Mr Gilfedder for having given the Ministerial party such a favourable opportunity of paying them a. visit. — (Applause.) The other toasts honoured were " The Chairman " and ''The District," proposed by the Premier, and " Agricultural and Pastoral Interests," proposed by Mr Gilfedder. One of the features of the gathering was the hearty singing of the audience, at the commencement, of the National Anthem, to the piano and •violin accompaniment of Misses C. and N. Sweetman. Cheers were given for the visitors and the members of the local bodies, and a most successful gathering was brought to a close with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne." AT WALLACETOWN. On the return journey from Otautau to Invercargill tho train stopped for 20 minute 9 at the Wallaeetown crossing, and the party were driven to the Southland Farm Home, where they were received by the Chairman o£ the Southland Charitable Aid Board (Mr Andrew Bain), who cordially welcomed them. Subsequently they were shown over the building by the master and matron (Mr and Mrs Cusworth). Everything was in order, and the dormitories etc., had a clean and comfortable appearance. The Premier said the home was rather far from the town, as its position prevented the friends of the aged inmates visiting them. After partaking of light refreshment the party returned to the train, and resumed their journey to Invercargill, where they arrived at 4- o'clock. EDENDALE AND WYNDHAM. The party then left by the ordinary train for Wyndham, where the Piemier was to" give a speech, and a banquet was to be tendered to the member for the district (Mr M'Nab). At Edendale Mr James Cushnie (president of the Liberal League) and Mr James M'Lauchlan (secretary) met them, and aa no engine was available to take the party along the branch, line to Wyndham, the carriage occupied by them was allowed to run down the incline by itself, tin's novel mode of railway travelling successfully landing the party in Wyndham 15 minutes later. Here an address of welcome was presented to the Premier by Mr James Walker (chairman of the Wyndham Town Board), in which the Government were congratulated on the fact tha f , they had occupied office longer than any previous Ministry, and that they were the first of the Governments of the colonies to show devotion to the motherland in her hour of need by despatchiiiGf the first contingent. In reply, the Premier heartily thanked tli9 Town Board for their address, and. said the~party had come to Wyndham that day .to do honour to the member for the districjb v a gentleman who was respected in the House as much as. if not more than, any other member. — (Applause.) Regarding /he reference in the address -to -the 1 sending of men to South Africa, he said that seeing the number of men offering, and knowing the necessity there was for more fighting men in the Transvaal, there was no turning back for the colony, and whatever was required it was the duty of the Government, within reasonable limits, to Send more men to assist their brothers in the Transvaal if they were required. — (Hear, hear.) He thanked the board for the address they had given him. and the settlers for the very hearty welcome they had extended to the party.