EARL CREWES' DESPATCH.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12498, 26 March 1909, Page 2

EARL CREWES' DESPATCH.

' NOT YET TO HAND. -':■'■ Wellington, March 25. The despatch forwarded to the Governor by the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning New -Zealend's offer of a Dreadnought had apparently not reached its recipient last night. Sir Joseph Ward :>was interviewed on the subject by.aJ'New Zealand Times" representatives late tonight , but he "could not enlighten him , and said he had received no communication from His Excellency. This, he assumed, was due to ' the fact that Lord Plunket Was journeying by sea along the East Coast of the North IsIpnd, and had been- unable to effect a -landing to-day. If such despatch as had been referred to in the; newspapers had been sent the chances ;were that he had not received it. Eis Excellfc'hey was due at Opotiki on' "Friday ac 10 a.m., and if he then- receives news from the Home Government he would in turn communicate it to the Prime Minister. „ - '' . Sir Joseph said he would then fur-* nish the press with such information from it as was not of a confidential nature. . -