The Premier on the West Coast.

Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10337, 19 February 1902, Page 3

The Premier on the West Coast.

Greyhouth, February 18. Mr Seddon was banquetted to-day at Ngahere and at Blackball, and to-niyht in Greymonth. He made a telling speech at Nga'here, in the course of which he said the time was not far distant when he, as head of the Government would see that the Colony would only supply coal for use in the Colony, or for Imperial purposes, such as warships and vessels carrying the British flag. He went on to say that he was heeomiug conservative in his old age, but bis conservatism was really the broadest liberalism, acd wholly in the interests of the Empire. He challenged anyone to truthfully say that any vote granted to the West Coast hud not be'en necessary and in the interests of the Colony. As for the Ngahere bridge, it would be pushed on with the utmost expedition. The banquet to-night is largely attended. The Premier drove the first pile of the Ngahere bridge amidst the greatest enthusiasm, and he pointed out bow necessary it was to open communication for seven hundred people otherwise cut off.