THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13278, 6 May 1907, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

MORE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS. EXCITING NAVAL REVIEW. United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copvright. • LONDON, May 3. The Victoria League entertained the wives and daughters of the Premiers and Ministers at luncheon. Princess Louise was present. ' The British Empire League, and the British Science Guild, 'gave the Premiers a banquet in the Hotel Metropole. Three hundred persons were present, including Lord Hugh Cecil, Lord Kelvin, and leading scientists and educationalists.

Lord Derby, the chairman, on behalf of ths League proposed "The Premiers," and was supported by-the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, on behalf of the Science Guild. Tha latter declared that the universities of Montreal, Melbourne, Sydney, And New Zealand looked forward /to an interchange of students and professors. Mr Deakin, in replying, said the Imperial problem was to retain the principle of self-government without leaving the selfgovernments scattered and disunited, or left until the hour of emergency to improvise expedients for unity. Sir Joseph Ward referred to the work of the Empire League in New Zealand. He was loudly cheered.

The Premiers attended a review of 60 modem warships, representing the Home Fleet, at Portsmouth and Spithead. There was a realistic attack . and a partial occupation of the whole island. The enemy were finally expelled. The Premiers at the outset were aboard (H.M.S. Dreadnought watching a mimic attack upon her by torpedo boats and submarines. Tliey saw the destroyer Coquette, in a heavy wash, crash into a coal hulk crowded with sightseers. The Coquette's bows were damngedj end she hud to be docked!