The Premier's Birthday.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 23 June 1896, Page 3

The Premier's Birthday.

Wellington, to-day. The Skating Bink was packed last night on the occasion of the social to celebrate the Premier's . fifty -first birthday. The attendance. waß estimated at nearly 300. Upwards of sixty resolutions were received from various organisations in the colony, besides a sheaf of letters and telegrams. Mr Bonar, M.L.C., presented Mr Seddon with an illuminated address, splendidly set in a large frame of New Zealand woods, the size of an ordinary overmantle. Mr Seddon, who was received with cheers, gave some interesting particulars of his early history, and then alluded to a few political topics. He read a telegram he had received from Sir G. Grey, after Mr Ballance's death, which he said was the turning point in, his making up his mind to 'take the office of Premier. He bespoke pnblic sympathy for Mr Ward as a man who had ruined himself by attending to the basiness of his country. Alluding to the anxious time Ministers had experienced daring the financial crisis iv other colonies, he said that representatives of every bank in New Zealand were then trembliug lest the panic should spread to New Zealand, and were in the Cabinet room with himself suggesting means to save the colony from a similar crash. All this was now forgotten by these institutions, but the present large gathering showed that the people had not forgotten it. He was not opposed to higher education, but wanted to see it attainable by the poorest child in the land. A band of natives performed a haka, and Mrs Keunedy Macdonald, on behalf of the women of New Zealand, presented Mrs Seddon with a costly diamond and pearl necklace Mrs Seddon replied on her own behalf, and cheers were given for her and her family. The proceed- I ings were marked by the utmost enthusiasm. I - Attached to the necklet which Mrs Seddon received last night was a beautiful pendant bearing the following inscription : — "From tho women of the New Zealand Liberal party to Mrs R. J. Seddon, the true helpmate of her distinguished husband in all his great public works." Mrs Seddon was also presented with a beautiful opal and diamond bangle. Se great was the crowd in the Skating Bink that several hundreds neve unable to obtain admission. C •- — — — — ——