ADDRESS BY Sir J. G. WARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12759, 12 January 1905, Page 7

ADDRESS BY Sir J. G. WARD.

Sir Joseph Ward was siiown round tho exhibition by Mr K. Cock (Fre|ident), and Mr Hal. 'G;oodaere (chairman), and tho -Minister expressed great Surprise and pleasure at the dimensions of the exhibition and l|ie general all round excellence of the exhibits. Subsequently, on visiting the Maori, village with Lady and Miss Ward, the natives danced pois ahd hiiUas, according the visitors a 'most enthusiastic welcome. Tho chiefteiin Rangi presented, through Key. F. |A. Bennett, Sir Joseph with a r-ui pui f Maori mat), and in accepting tpie gift tbe Minister Ireartily tlianketl tjlie Maoris, and said he appreciated t|ie spirit which prompted the iireseniaition. > Sir Joseph later addressed a few remarks to the Maoris, liev. F, A. Bennett aciiiig as interpreter. lie alluded to the historical associations 4ttached to the Taranaki district, aiid remarked that very few of fh« oluer natives* would have ever cpntomplat«d tho .possibility, of s»uch a useful aiid educational show as that provided |>y tho exhibition. .Great changes iiad taJ< en /place during the last (>0 years, and the older members of the Maori race, .present, would have participated in tl>em. From a time- of stress ajad . Trouble and misunderstanding, l?otwe^n j the two races, they li ad emerged in^to one of peace, happiness, goodwill, and esteem. In calling in the yssistance of the Maoris at a gathering such jas the present, it showed that the goodwill and esteem he. had referred to was being solidly welded. He was sure the Exhibition Cojmnittec iuid the; public generally were very grateful to tho natives for the help they had given at the exhibition. Sir Joseph made reference to the birth of "Carnival," and remarked that ho was sure the Premier, with the speaker, would be greatly pleased to see the Maoris present. He wished, xho natives overy good luck, the .best of f-ealtn and- happiness in the future, and he hoped their worst day's luick during 1905 would be -better than the best day's luck during 19(M. Sir Joseph, expressed appreciation of the valuaible helip rendered by Rev. Bennett in trying to • improve the general condition of the Maori race amongst wJiom he had lately been working in Taranaki. J In addressing the European portion of the gathering, Sir Joseph stated that the result of the efforts of those who had organised the exhibition was very satisfactory indeed. Exhibitions similar to the one promoted here were looked upon us only being; capable of success in- larger toiwns, but those who believed tl'.e smaller towns were not able to successfully organise an exhibition would be disillusionised by what had been accomplished in New Plymouth. He had experienced great pleasure that day,; in gxMng through the exhibition, and seemg 1 on all sides the work of both men and woimen, giving an idea of the transformation that had taken place during comparatively recent years. There was now scarcely any of the modern reqam'omcnts of men and -women which were not rnwdc in the colony, and people were beginning to realise Vhat a help it was to the colony generally in trying as far as° possible* to asivist one another. By doing this they were helping to bring about a more satisfactory condition of industrial matters, creating additional omployiment, all tending in the direction of aiding the coffers of the colony. The exhibition proved that the colonial artisans were capable of producing as good an article as those of the Old Land, or any part of the world. The old idea that far-off fields looked greener was being rentovod, and people who : left this country on the expectation of finding a greianer one outside soon returned disillusionised. . They came biack with the impression. +hat although New Zealand was small, there was a charm about its freedom of institutions that was not to be found in any other country in tho world. {Ho said New Zealand was not- far behind in the raCe, and they had a >jood deal to fee thankful for. The Minister went on to say that ho wished to express to the uctiveminded men^busy men, no doubt, because it was generally the business men who interested themselves in such movements— his personal nppreciation of the good work they had accomplished in connection with /the Exhibition. Such a project assisted

materially in advertising a 1 district, and be felt, sure that incalcuable good would result in that direction through the holding of the Carnival at New Plymouth. Tlie visitors from other districts who appeared to have been greatly impressed with what they had seen would go back to their homes and their friends and speak of the Taranaki district and what they had seen. "I only hope," jocularly remarked Sir Joseph, "that the advertisement obtained" would result in the price of butter going up from, lOd to lSd." He concluded by thanking Messrs Cock and Goodacre for the attention those gentlemen had bestowed on him .and Lady Ward and daughter. THe Maoris followed with a haka, and g-ave three hearty cheers for Sir Joseph. On the initiation of ihe Minister tlie Europeans present returned the compliment. Sir Joseph then alighted from his cab and shook hands with all the natives who appeared to keenly 'appreciate the compliment thus accorded •them. Tlie child, Carnival, was also brought along for the inspection of Sir Joseph" and Lady .Ward.