MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 55

MINISTERIAL MOV EM ENTS.

TIMARU, February 1

The Premier was tho giiost of the Harbour Board to-day, when ho inspected the harbour works and board's quarries. Tho day was fine, and a party of 40 representative citizens spent a pleasant time. This afternoon Mr Soddon received local deputations. He goes north to-night.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 1,

Sir J. G. Ward arrived from Wellington yesterday, and left for Hanmer by this morning's train, in pursuance of a longstanding promise to visit the district, liei will remain there over Tuesday, and oa Wednesday will return as far as Kaiapoi, where he will open t.he new railway station and lay the foundation stone of the new post office. On Wednesday night he will lea%e for Wellington, where Ministers are to assemble to du-cuss several importa-nt matters which are to come before Cabinet. It is understood to be the intention of residents of Hanmer to offer Sir Joseph a banquet. At Hanmer Sir J. G. Ward received a warm reception. He agreed tha^ communication with the southern sanatorium! was not everything that could be desired, and undertook to look into the matter of its improvement. He suggested that ifc possibly might be found feasible to construct something in the nature of a lighfe narrow-gauge railway from Culverden. Hff will be banqueted to-morrow.

NELSON, February 1.

The Hon. C. H. Mills is visiting tha Tafcaka show. He proceeds to Parapara to insnect the iron deposits there. He stated "that Sir Joseph Ward had deferred 1 his trip to Europe for a year in consequence of the I'ostponoment; of the Postal Conference for a similar period.