Proposed Presentation to the Premier.

Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10337, 19 February 1902, Page 2

Proposed Presentation to the Premier.

Auckland, February 17. A meeting of the Committee appointed to carry out the details in connection with the proposed testimonial to the Premier was held today. The Mayor] said he had telegraphed to the Mayors of Wellington Dunedin, and Christchurch, asking the line upon which they intended to go. A reply was received from the Wellington Reception Committee in favor of a large presentation, and asking Auckland to forego its banquet. Mr G. G. Stead, of Christchurch replied that that centre would act in uniformity with others, and favored a purse of sovereigns. The Mayor moved that the presentation take the form of a purse of sovereigns. The Mayor suggested that the presentation should be given when the Premier saw the Ninth Contingent off. The resolution was carried unanimously. It was further decided that circulars be forwarded to 135 members, of the Committee and ab&&£---70 other leading men, together with subscription lists. The subscriptions are to be from Is upwards. At a public meeting to-night the following resolutions was unanimously passed: — That a Committee be formed to co-operate with other centres in organising a Colonial fund for presentation to the Premier, in recognition of his services to the Empire in despatching contingents to South Africa ; that this meeting affirms the principle that the subscriptions throughout the Colony should be limited to Is, and that the labor bodies, Mayors of boroughs, county chairmen, and heads of all local bodies be asked for their kind co-operation in the matter ; that it ' be suggested that the presentation be made by the Governor. A large and

representative Committee was appointed to attend to the subsect matter of the resolutions. Wellington, February 18. At n public meeting convened by the Mayor to-night. ;r resolution was passed 'affirming the desirability oi recognising the Premier's patriotic services to the Empire by the presentation of a testimonial and purse of sovereigns. A committee was appointed to carry out the object". Wasganui, February 18. At a meeting of citizens to-night, ai which the Mayor presided, it was decided to join with the rest of the Colony in paying a tribute to rhe Eight Eon the Premier in connection with his distinguished and valuable services to the Empire in connection with the South African campaign .The motion was proposed by Mr F. A Krull, German Consul, who, in the course of a patriotic speech, declared that Germany was a real friend to England. The recent slanders emanated from a small section of the Press, but the leading papers were in entire sympathy with Great Britain. He dwelt on the Emperor's manifestations of friendship, and, speaking as a man of colonial experience extending over fortythree years, he said that they as Gerctan colonists enjoyed under the Biitish flag a freedom such as they did not have in their own country. The feeling recently manifested was only a passing wave. He denounced as disciples of Judas Iscariot men of the Stead and Bannerman stamp, and said that in Germany they would long since have been silenced for high treason. He paid a high tribute to Mr Seddon, who was a man in a thousand. Sir Julius Yogel, he said; was a great statesman, but Mr Seddon had risen above bin. 1 * He would be a marked man at the Coronation, and would receive a groat reception in the Home land. Donedin, February 13. In connection with the banquet to be given to the I'remier in the first week of next month, the Executive Committee decided to-night that there should be a banquet and conversazione. The banquet programme will be comparatively brief, and will be followed by a conversazione, which will give an opportunity to large numbers of the general public to attend and meet the Premier.