THE PREMIER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11483, 16 January 1903, Page 6

THE PREMIER.

«. — -» BANQUET AT GREYMOUTH. (FBXSS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM3.) WESTPORT, January 15.

The Premier visited the State Colliery yesterday, and was entertained at luncheon in Westport. He delivered addresses at both places, and left for Reefton in the evening. GREYMOUTH, January 15.

Mr B-ddon was banqueted to-night. Crowds were unable to obtain admission owing to ,the wont of room. In the course of his remarks, he denied most emphatically that he ever sounded the underwriter*, in London regarding a loan, and never approached them in any way. He said that on the eve of his departure certain frtatements were sent Home regarding the national purse, which were quite unwarranted, and sent solely to prejudice him in the eyes of the world. He went Home not as a party man, but solely in the in-tere-rtß of the colony and Empire. Out of twelve resolutions passed at the Imperial Conference, six emanated from New Zealand. Ho denied" in most emphatic terms that he ever intended to leave New Zealand and go to South Africa. The financial outlook was bright. For. the past nine months the returns pointed to p, surplus equal to, if not greater than, last year's. " Everything looked prosperous, and if be was speaking to a- company he would say there would be the usual dividend. Seven hundred thousand would be spent this year in throwing land open for settlement. He hoped to see coal shipped from the State mines in nine months, and said the Government intended to get all the coal trucks made in New Zealand. The "Qbvennnent would be more active In the future in assisting the development of the resources of the colony, such as gold, coal, and timber. He expected on his ne_Ct viSlt to inform them that a gang of men were working at' the Otira tunriei, on the Midland Railway.