For the Empire’s Sake.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IV, 26 July 1902, Page 229

For the Empire’s Sake.

LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF A PREMIER ON TOUR.

Beyond acknowledging his indebtedness to wireless telegraphy, the editor does not feel at liberty to disclose the source of the interesting communication which follows, the securing of which is perhaps the most remarkable “scoop” yet made in the history of New Zealand journalism.

London. July 15th.—Next to Knmara. I think I love St. Helens more than any other place. It speaks to me so of myself. I would have stayed there much longer had it been possible. My visit was all too brief. There is a close analogy between the rise of this Lancashire town and my own. As I knew it before I went to the colonies, it was a little innocent village, and as it knew me I was an unknown young man. Now I return as the first of Colonial Premiers, to find the village grown into a big manufacturing centre. In both cases the change has been phenomenal. Alas! for poor St. Helens, it has not attained its greatness without the sacrifice of its early purity and beauty, for the pleasant lanes and the green fields of my boyhood are nowgiven over to the smoke and grime of iron and copper works, and the once pellucid waters of the Sankey brook are noisome with the refuse of alkali factories. I am glad to think that the besmirching influences of political life have not affected me in that manner. I am, as it were, a St. Helens grown great without the loss of its healthy beauty. So changed is the place that I had much difficulty in picking up the old landmarks, but I found the spot where I had my first big fight, and learned the important fact that I was smart with my fists. In vain I looked for the scenes of most of my boyish escapades, or the friends of my obscure youth in the smoky town, and the disappointment I felt led me on several occasions to wander alone into the suburbs, where among the fields I was better able to recall my lost youth. It was on one of these little excursions that the most un-

pleasant adventure of my stay in England occurred. I was sauntering along the brook, when a sudden fancy took me that I would like to have a dip in the water. The day was warm, and unused as I am to much exertion on foot, I felt a bath would be an excellent refresher. So hastening to a spot where we used to bathe as boys I slipped off my clothes under shelter of a bush, and was soon luxuriously rolling about in the water. Under the delightful influence of the cool stream my thoughts flew back to my young days, and I soon found myself indulging in all the aquatic feats that used to be popular with the St. Helens youth of fifty years ago. I dived, floated, did the wriggler wiggley, and the paddle boat, and a lot of other tricks. I was just in the middle of that amusing evolution, the grampus, when I happened to cast my eyes in the direction where I had left my clothes. It was some distance away, for in my playful disportings I had unconsciously allowed myself to drift down the stream some way To my horror I descried a man cool-

ly getting into my garments. He was already half dressed in them before I noted him. and called aloud. My cry only made him hasten his toilet the more. Tw o courses of action suggest-

ed themselves to me in my awful predicament. One was to land, race along the bank, and catch the miscreant before he had made off. The second was to swim as quickly as I could up stream till I got near him. and then land. If I could have adopted the first I should no doubt have overtaken the rascal, who was clearly of the genus tramp, but I could not possibly contemplate the sacrifice to my modesty and dignity that such a course would mean, not to speak of the risk of being discovered by the authorities, who prohibit bathing without the regulation costume. So. perforce. I had to adopt the slower method, with the result that before I reached the spot from which I had gone into the water the thief was far afield, habited in my best belltopper and frock coat, in the pockets of which I had a number of valuable possessions, including my diary, notes for twelve addresses, several souvenirs of St. Helens, a half-smoked cigar the Prince of Wales gave me. and other items, besides money and keys. Pur-

suit in the condition I was—naked as when I first of all came to St. Helens was of course out of the question, but I had to follow the scoundrel, and I had to be clothed. There was nothing for it but to master my repugnance and don the horrible rags my despoiler had left in place of my beautiful black coat and fawn trousers. I got it over quickly, and started after the fugitive tramp. Avoiding the main road as much as possible. I walked and raced to such good effect that as I approached the first roadside inn I had the pleasure of seeing the thief disappear into the bar. The temptation of a full purse was too much for him. As luck would have it a policeman was close by. and although at first he was disposed to smile incredulously at me, the evident incongruity of persqn and attire in the ease of both the tramp and myself decided him to arrest the former. I had no difficulty in proving mv ownership of the clothes, my knowledge of the documents in the pockets being sufficient, and twenty minutes later I was lying in bed awaiting the arrival of a change of raiment from the town. The tramp was straightway lodged in the lock-up. but to avoid a scandal T refused to appear against him in the Court, and he was rather leniently dealt with. The resignation of Lord Salisbury came as a surnrise to me. T was out of town at the time, and before T could get back T learned that Balfour had got the billet of Premier Bill Reeves suggests that the chnn-m was intentionally effected while I was away, so as to avoid complications. T shouldn't wonder if that were the case. But as a fact I never thought of Salisbury's shoes. As T told Bill T wouldn't have the billet were it offered me. I saw Salisbury later, and he was very apologetic. Spoke of Arthur's (Balfour's that is) claims, etc., and hummed and hawed over the matter. Of course. I am too courteous to say anything, as all the memlKTs in our own NewZealand Parliament know, but I couldn't- help thinking and asking myself “what special claims has Balfour?" He may be a smart enough fellow I admit, but what has he cone for the Empire? Did he send one contingent to Smith Africa? They say he's a capita! speaker. I take the liberty to don t wheiher he has delivered half as many speeches as I have, or as long ones. I m sure h-- couldn’t- h.iv--spoken so much as me. And t.’ien his literary claims. Well. I know he lias written a book called “The Foundations of Something or Another." over which a good deal of

fuss was made. I 'Haven't read it because I'm not interested in architc—tore. but if authorship is to count in politics, what price mv “Premier in Search of Health?" f also am an author. Mr Balfour, so the less said about that the better.

The Austrian Ambassador called on me yesterday- lie came to complain about the way in which his countrymen are treated in the colony. Of course he stated his ease most courteously—couldn't have been n eer but all the same he evidently felt he had a grievance. I assured him that he was entirely miinformed with respect to the treatn ent of the Austrians in New Zea-

land; that, as a fact, they were welcomed as brothers, both by the people and Government, of the colony. As to gumdigging. I drew him an idyllic picture of life on the gumfielos; fold him you met Oxford and Cambridge men. doctors and lawyers on the fields—which in a sense is quite true: and also that T had done a little at the work myself—which was also true, for once in the North, years ago. on that famous tour of mine. T turned a sod for a gumdigger. He said something about delay in granting letters of naturalisation to the Austrians in New Zealand. T assured him that there again he was labouring under some cruel misapprehension, and explained that owing to the presence of an unprincipled opposition in the colony. one had to be most careful in regard to any rumours one heard. Finally we parted the best. of friends, he declaring that after his term of office at the Court, of St. James elapsed. T need not be surprised to find him applying for letters of naturalisation, “on these ’ Ivsinn gumfields of yours. Meester Seddon."

July IS.—-Have been spending- an hour or two every afternoon lately ” ith Irving. My success in private theatricals on board ship determined me to see the great actor and get hi< opinion as to mv talents. Not that I have any definite idea at present of forsaking politics for the boards--though it would not be a wider step to take than from Kumar.i Hotel to a Privy Councillorship - but one never knows. Irving thinks I would do best- in heavy roles, and we rehearsed some scenes together in costume from the “Merry Wives of Windsor." and “Henry VIII." I taking- the parts of Falstaff and tlm King. Irving says I look both parts to the life. By the way. I have persuaded him and Miss Terry to visit the colonies next year. wffien it is jti't possible I shall join their Company. so a treat of no common kind awaits New Zealand playgoers. I am keeping my own possible participation in the tour a profound secret.