AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. (By Our Special Reporters.) WINTON, June 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 37

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. (By Our Special Reporters.) WINTON, June 19.

The Hon. Sir Joseph G. Ward, Minister (Di Railways and Colonial Secretary, cam© en to Winton to-night, and on arrival was met and welcomed by the Mayor (Mr C. D. Moore) and other' representative towns■people. The local band, under Bandmaster >D. Hurst, wjub in attendance, and played the Minister from the railway station to the Winton Hotel. "Ifee publio meeting at 8 o'clock was held in Moore's Hall, which was almost packed With an audience of business people, tradespeople, farmers, and others, many of whom had com© a long distance to hear Sir Joseph's 6peech. There was a good attendance off ladies. Seats on the platform were ©coupled by Messrs J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., JO. .Thomson, M.H.R., Gilfeddar, and R. *Mr SO?*D Moore (Mayor of Winton) presided and in a iew appropriate remarks introduced the Minister to tho meeting-.. Sir Joseph Ward, on rising, *wm _ received With hearty applause. He thanked the band for turning out that night. It was an honour that was unexpected, and tbereiore all the more appreciated. He hoped the fcand would go on prospering. There was nothing that tended to put people in good humour so much aB to fcear the inspiriting strains of a gopd iband as they had in Winton.—(Applause.) Continuing, Sir Joseph said:—For over 18 years I have had the pleasure (which ■I hope has been mutual) of meeting you in public, and need I assure you how great a one it is to me to onoe again meet you jto discuss matters in which you take a deep interest. I had hoped to be able to come south a few months ago and visit not only all parts of my electorate, but any other places in Southland where I have •been constantly invited. This pleasure was, (however, denied me, as I found that my health was affected by the continuous strain of Ministerial life, and I was ordered by my medical adviser lo take a rest and change for a short time, and I am indeed (thankful to say that the change has had the •desired* effect, and that I have never felt better in my life. —(Applause ) I lead, as you know, a very busy life, and while nothing ••wouild give me greater satisfaction than quietly going through my own electorate, the dutie* devolving upon me render it exceedingly difficult for me to do so; but !>' hope after the coming session to meet the people whose interests I have endeajroured, to the best of my ability, to serve, amd who have fox so long a period of year® reposed in me a confidence so much appreciated by me.— (Applause.) There have ■been great changes in Awarua since you first did n*e the honour of electing me as touV, representative. Many of your- and rc>y old friends hay© passed away—notably Messrs Keith, "Norman, and Jack, old identities, greatly respected during their lives, — but it is a gratifying to find the young people following in the steps of those who have gone, before, and carrying on the •work bo honourably porformed by their predecessors. Through all the changing scones *ho district has gone on prospering, and today, amongst the progressing districts of ■the cbloHy?' Awaraa is as well off in this respect as any of them. __ The whole of Southland has prospered in a. most satisfactory way, ac I shall endeavour to show you. —(Applause.)