Otago Witness Illustrations.

Otago Witness, Issue 2610, 23 March 1904, Page 35

Otago Witness Illustrations.

hk^>.t ot, fh lno^ Urm f 1! 7e7 e ? 6nt ministerial tour, the Eight Hon. R. J. Seddon had an amusing experience. A bullock team harnessed to a waggon loaded -with timber had been drawu up on the roadside, and ;t was suggested to the Premier that he should tako Fmnfrk *nl wfc/Tai. + + Photographed. The humour of the situation appealed at once to the Premier, and he climbed into position; then was witnessed the spectach of the Prime Minister of the colony, whose utterances are quoted and discussed throughout the Wif> ,\,V« nrr£l Vn,™ sta *2s2 sm ansfliP is recognised amongst that of the leading statesmen of the world, seated on a vehicle which is associated with the silent and muddy back blocks of the New Zealand bush, the slow bullock dray drawn by the patbnt bullock team, ttifl wZnn n^X!v -fremier seized the long-handled bullock-whip, and beckommg Mr J. W. Thomson, M.H.R., and Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., to his aide, he jocularly exclaimed "The exhausted members under the lash." The school children were drawn up around mi» waggon, ana Tine unique gToup was duly focussed and "snapped" by the Witness photographer, as is shown in this picture. It was a scene replete with humour, and yet of much interest, for at evinced at once one great reason of the Premier's popularity amongst tne people, evidence of the breaking-in of the far-back bush settlements and promise of a prosperous settlement. Needless to say the orowd was delighted, and the event should become a historical reminiscence.