Hokitika.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 1

Hokitika.

■COBBESPONDKNT " CANTERBURY TIMES."] Hokitika, March 11. HONOTJBIKG THB FBEMIER. The presentation to Mr Seddon last Phursday was fully as imposing a function is its promoters intended. Mr Seddon, with Mrs Seddon and his family, arrived by the midday train and was received by the Mayor and Borough Councillors, the school children, and a large assemblage of bown and country people. Flags were very much in evidence, and the band greeted him by playing "The Fine Old English Gentleman," a delicate allusion, probably, to his nationality. Mv Seddon was occupied during the whole of the afternoon receiving deputations at the Harbour Board Office, and in the evening the presentation was made by the Mayor in the Palace Eail, some six or sevea hundred being present. A "social" and dance to Mrs Seddon and the Misses Seddon had been arranged for half-pastJlnne the same evening, so the presentation was nob allowed to take very long. On the platform were the Hous Bonar and Kerr and Mr D. Benjamin, who seconded the Premier's nomination at the hustings prior to his first election to the House. Mr Seddon limited Ma remarks to a speech of forty minuteß* duration. The subsequent "social" and dance in the Town Hall was a very pleasant affair. The party left for Kumaru at about raidnight, but before dome bo the Premier expressed his acknowledgments on behalf of Mrs Seddon, whilst Miss Mary Seddon made a neat little speech on behalf of her sisters and herself. Before they left all present sang " Auld Lang Syne." ' The next morning Mr Seddon performed the ceremony of turning the first sod of the Kutnaia No. 5 Bludga channel, and in the afternoon the party went to Greymouth. PLAIN SPEAKING, When Epeaking to the deputations, Mr Seddon did not stop to choose his words. Tho Harbour Board have for some time been asking the Government to take over their reserves, which represent a nominal valuo of .£30,000, and do not clear iJ2O a year, extinguish the debenture debt of £10,000 to the Post Office, giving them Botnethiug in hard cash as well, or else give them power to administer their proparty. The Board have £800 on fixed deposit, but have made default Gf £250 (six monthe' interest) on debentures, pending definite reply from the Government as to tha rescrveßi Mr Seddon's reference to this action was forcible in tho extreme. He told them that it was moat improper, ■was, in fact, downright dishonest. .FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE. The delegates have at length arrived efcter an eventful experience. The Btormy weather which set in on Thursday night had the effect of flooding the rivers and causing landslips so as to seriously interfese with traffic overland, whilst the heavy eea3 and floods prevented the poita from being worked. The first batsh of delegates were 6tuck up" all Friday .night in a roadman's hut on the Bealey river-bed, had trouble with floods nDd land.-lips subsequently, and finally reached Jackson's on Saturday afternoon. The aecond contingent did nob get through till Sunday, and arrivt d ia town by early traia this morning. Those who came by sea were still later in reaching their destination. They Btarled by the Wainui, but she was obliged to pub back, not being able to get into Grfymoutb, and transferred her passengers to the Graf toa, which spent a day or two ia Westport, ecd was notable to get into the Groy aatil thia .evening. The train brought them _to t&wn immediately afterwards. G^ing to these delays the confercaco will not commence till to-morrow morning — a day late — but they are going to make an early start aiid finish up on Thursday. SCHOOL EXCURSIONS. The first of theß3 pleabant innovations of tho Bailway Department took place to-day, when over one thousand children attending schools within a reasonable distance of the railway line, with some two hundred or three hundred ad alts, went to Greymouth. The day was not one of the pleißanteafc, bub the youngsters bad their jito, and that satisfied them.