THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

■ INVITATION TO VISIT GLASGOWUnited Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, 'April 19. The Chamber of Commerce of Glasgow has invited the Colonial Premiers to visit that city. The chamber also decided, by 62 votes to 39 that the commercial union of the Empire would be the most readily and advantageously established on a nituual preferential basis. GREETINGS PROM MR YCHAMBER- . LAIN. LONDON, April 18. Mr Chamberlain, telegraphed to Lord Elgin sincerely thanking the Premiers' for their good wishes. He added: "I am promised a complete restoration .to health, in which case I hope to speedily resume my public work.." The message was hailed with the ut,mosb joy at Birmingham, but Mi" Chamberlain is not expected to return to England before June. GUESTS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. LONDON, April 18. Those present at the Prince of Wales' banquet in honour of the Premiers and their lisidies, included Princess Louise, the Duke of Argyle, Sir H. CampbellBannerman, the Duke and: Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, the Earl of Elgin, the Countess of Selborne, Lord Knutsford, Lord Tennyson, the Hon. A. Lyttelton and Mrs Lyttelton. At the subsequent reception held at Marlborough House, there were 150 guests, including Prince Alexander of Teck, Lord and Lady Roberts, Sir Redvers and. Lady Buller, Lord and Lady Wolseley," Lord and .Lady Strathcona, Sir Evelyn Wood, Countess of Jersey, the Earl and Countess of Onslow, Earl and Countess Beauchanip, the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly, Sir George and Lady Clark, and the Agents-General. A COLOSSAL BANQUET. WELCOME BY THE UNIONISTS. LONDON, April 19. The Unionist banquet to the at the Albert Hall, was a colossal function, 4000 being present, of whom 1800 sat down to dinner, the largest number on record for London. A special floor was laid, designed to represent the Union Jack; ;>, floral canopy above formed the Imperial Crown; -and red, white and blue garlands stretched from the Crown to the" Coats of Arms of the Colonies. Miss Clara Butt sang the National Anthem, and Mr Arthur Royd " God Bless the Prince of Wales." The nation's guests and all the prominent Unionists, the Marquis of Linlithgow, and the AgentsGeneral, were among those present. Mr Chamberlain wrote: —"I am convinced that the Imperial Conference will mark another great step in the union of the Empire. This development we owe more to the sister 'States, than to ourselves." He predicted that Britain would not long shirk from the only method of giving effect to the movement. > Mr Balfour presided, and in proposing the toast of " Our Guests," emphasised the fact that - Britain and the colonies were making an audacious, yet a hopeful experiment, binding in one Empire communities unhampered and untrammelled in liberty and freedom of government—a true parallel of family, not alliance, nor partnership. He dealt with the Teitsons' why •a realisation of this ideal should be permanent. Sir J. G. Ward said he was hopeful that the Imperial Conference wouid crown in a large measure the colonies' earnest wishes, and he urged the public men of iha Empire to seek and extend opportunities for acquainting: themselves with the colonies. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mr Deakin also spoke.