OUR POSTMASTERGENERAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12911, 28 February 1906, Page 5

OUR POSTMASTERGENERAL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD IX AUSTRALIA.

A FAREWELL INTERVIEW.

Tv I Ward left Melbourne hist Wednesday by r.-.il for Adelaide to join the steamer by which he is travelling to Rome m 3, . C wi U ;«p«*ent New Zealand at ttoe I ostal Lonfcience. A member of the Tlmaru Herald" staff, who was in Melbourne at the time called upon Sir Joseph at the Crand Hotel during the dav to *ee if be had' any farewell message to*send* to tfae people he is to represent at the peat gathering of postmasters. The" Minister was having a. busy time with callers and entertainers, but he had his usual cbeerv greeting and a few minutes to *na« for * fellow-countryman who could enable him to speak, to the public of his own colonv. He was booked u, hzdh at 1 o'clock as the guest of the Federal Ministers, and as-the day was one of Melbourne's choicest. Ramies of sweltering heat, he was about to prepare himself for the function W a prolonged immersion in the bath. The few minutes chat naturallv turned apon Sir Joseph'* reception in Australia, which had been, very cordial Both in Sydney and Melbourne, private friend* and public men had treated him with the utmost hospitality, the days and night* being a round of banquets, theatre parties, and so forth. Sir Joseph regarded the' warm treatment accorded to him a* an indication of Australian sentiment towards New Zealand. Curiously enough the only public man who had -emitted to call upon him was the Premier of Victoria, who lately unbosomed hhnncli of a. lew remark* not quite complimentary to this colonv. and who expressed himself with some pride upon the fact that Victoria, had % "got in ahead"' of New Zealand in the matter of a, loan. The reccpiin* <,f the New Zealand" loan lately placed across the water, bowever, showed that even after Victoria's own requirements were satisfied, there wan still money left, and that X<nv Zealand's credit was good enough to open Ihc coffer* which heJd it.

Sir Joseph Wad was, naturally enough, disinclined in criticise tbe ""domertic concern* of bis genertms hosts, but. be could not deny tbe interviewer"* experience that in mutter* afiWiiin* 1«* <rwa department*!. !:c has provided' Xcw ZeaJand with conveniences aatber superior to thone enjoyed i"« Victoria. Anyone .accustomed' to Sir Joseph's sbrpetnr tclea-rams find* bis hair rising' at. the be incurs when be begins "to use the Victorian wire*, white in tbe matter of telephoning, tbe Melbourne system is decidedly rlower and more disconcerting than those of tbe principal cities in Stv Zea J «'i«d, When one trie* to 4o a. little long-distance telephoning from some seaside resort down the bay to a Melbourne suburb, tbe experience is something maddening.

When, be wan asked if he would send a farewell toewutge to tbe colony. Sir Joseph requested that his best wishes for success and prosperity should be conveyed Jo Xew Zealard. and especialrr that tbe warmes' records of bis wife end' of hinwelf should be given so all their good friend* l r.i Awarua. ** Wash tiem Kia-orn." be *«id. * and tell lliero that they will *3l be in "iir memories while we are ■abroad." Both Kir Joseph .arsd l.adv Ward were evidently enjoying their holiday, and judging tfrom *.-iray remarks or* overheard at table in the Vjr»nd from their fellow passenger* ©n ibe Moldavia, during the run from Sydney ia Melbourne, tlnnr bad already estafelißbed a reputation on bnard for borbosnie aikl rof>d fellowfdiip. Mr B. M. WSikmj. who ."ccx-mjMnies Sir Joseph a# prhrate secretarv. - wjhj .-«Wi Wtkinc rematir-tbfy Veil, •mfj <n>e could w-' bel]} JcmaHriag titft 'in t»br4i-tiM*f an<l sw" 3 :'l manner, be ik ; sti* ex■/t'l"'n!l slJar-he !'i his chief. TIXTEIUVUXED AT PERTH.- " United P-*«« Asuooatinn— Te'Jezrapb— Corwr^^-' PERTH. pti v — 07. £:r Ward xras tth»i ■•»+ F-*--* ; "'ntJe bv 'be Stale Mnn>tny. stid •'•novrttfl t«> IVi.th in a sTiccial launch. H« wn* »te- "-•-''- ejjlfrfair/ed at luncheon at tbe Palace Hnie'i. ' ■ :