THE PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8778, 15 November 1906, Page 3

THE PREMIER.

4 ENTERTAINED AT INVERCARGILL [From Our Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, November 15 A supper was held in tho Concert Hall last night, the Mayor presiding. After the usual loyal toast, the Premier proposed the health of the Governor. He tfpoke of the Governor's interest in the welfare of the colony, and of Lady Plunket's' connection with philanthropic work. The Governor, in reply, expressed his devotion to New Zealand. I Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., proposed the health of their honoured friend, Sir Joseph Ward, and voiced: the pride of Southlanders in the fact that he was the first of their representatives who had attained to the Premiership. He spoke of Sir Joseph's political sagacity, tact and progressiveness, and ■expressed the utmost confidence in hi© ability t-o fill and adorn his high office. Mr Hanan referred to the present holders of the different portfolios. They wore all men of the highest, integrity and of unblemished character, and would all do their best for tho colony. He made sympathetic references to the- Hon J. A. Millar and the Hon Colonel Pitt, and eulogised Sir Joseph Ward's action in regard to postal reform. Mr J. 0. Thompson proposed " The Ministry." He spoke of the growth of settlement in Southland, and urged its people not to do as a certain place not far north of Invercargill had been doing. Let them not give the impression that they had lost confidence in themselves. The moment people began to run down their own town and people a backward step was taken. He expressed confidence in the stability of the Ministry, and 'said that his one desire was the improvement of the colony. They were only on the threshold of the development of the colony. Ho expressed the pleasure of the gathering in having Lady Ward among them. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, thanked Mr Hanan for the way in which he had [.proposed his health. Southland, in | that among its representatives it had a Premier and a Minister (Mr M'Nab) and a supporter of the Ministry (Mr Hanan) occupied a unique position. Mr. M'Nab, in reply, avoided political questions, and touched on the peculiar fact that the New Zealand Ministry wae composed of men of longer political experience than was the case in any other part of the Empire. He referred to the further peculiar fact that the Minister of Lands had been drawn, right back to the Grey Ministry, from Ofcago men. Sir Joseph Ward proposed the chairman's health, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" terminated what had been a red letter day in the brief annals of Southland.