SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 625, 30 September 1909, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

; ; , A VVIRECESS MESSAGE. , iXPECTS TO ANCHOE AT NOON TO-DAY. e The Acting-Prime Minister (Hon.- J; Carroll) Wired from Taihapb to his Cabinet colleagues! I, in Wellington"at' 11.35 a.m." yesterday:— 6 "Hayo just received following wireless .message:—'Now< CO miles 'from Auckland. . Weather 1in0.., . Expect anchor Auckland ' , about noon, Thursday. All. well.—Sir Joseph'. : Ward.' frhfough Prometheus.) J. Carroll."" ! .As the- functions' at Auckland in connection ) with.the arrival of Sir Joseph Ward are timed l ' for: the afternoon, he'.will apparently, be able •' to.ca'tch the Main Trunk express at 9 p.m., and in that case he''will arrive in Wellington at ;• i.30 on' Friday afternoon.-■'■■ !- RUMOURS;OF A COUNTER-DEMON. ;..'. : ; ; .,.'.;. ISTRATION., IBy TaltcraD&.-Bpeclal OqrraiDSDdeat.t : .' "Auckland, September 29. The:weather conditions in' Auckland to-night are dismal in the extreme, so that the out- ' look for -a successful function in connection with the return ,of,the. Prime Minister tomorrow is. not too promising in that respect. '• Eain has. fallen all day and shows no sign of clearing'up. Although, the "Starj" Government organ, is supported by the "Herald,"' which voices Opposition views, in an effort-to lead public opinion in the, direction' of 'making tho welcome" to Sir Joseph Ward a non-party one, the amount of enthusiasm evidenced so far is scarcely as pronounced as the."former paper would seek to make.it appear.' An energetic committee of mixed.pou"ytics' has made complete arrangements, and the programme of proceedings, will be as follows:— On : the arrival,;of ; the Challenger (expected .to be at noon, according to Sir, Joseph's wifeless message to-day), a Bub-cominittee will wait upon, the' Premier and ask him to land at 8 p.m.. 'He will- be .officially received on the wharf .by .the Mayor and -chairman of the harbour board (Mr. C, D. Grey and the Hon. :E." Mitchelsbn). A. procession, /headed by .the Garrison Band, will then be formed and wend its way to the-Albert Park, if^fine, or to'the Prill HalU:if wet., An- illuminated address . 'will.-then :be-ipresented to .Sir .Joseph" by- the Mayor; ■ The Prime" Minister's Bpeeoh, -. in reply,'. is, the :ohW'. one provided for on the pro-' ■ gramme. The streets along the'line" of route are to be lined by volunteers and cadets. -So far the,only signs of decoration are at the Goyernhient •'•Buildings in Customs,-Street, whore there, is'a" brave, display, of bunting.The Hon.' J: A. Millar is 'here, and the Hons. J. .Carroll" and Geo. Fo'wlds will arrive in, the, morning. It is uriderstbo'd that Mr. Massey's, engagements will.precludo himfrom taking part in.tlio welcome. ; Tho Mayor has--asked-.' citizens to observe'' ' to-morrow as':.-i half-lioliday, invitation. Has. not vbeen. iina'iii'mously-.re'spdiided'tb.,-The Karangahiipe'.'Rood,'shopkeepers,"- for .instance, ■ observed; tile usual half-holiday todoy, and .will.'-'not-shut -to-morrow, and Hie sanio applies to Quceir Street tradespeople,' , soveral of w.hont-'wlll remain, open. The fire -, insurance, offices: and some of the .warehouses i are to close, but"the half-holiday will nOt;be gehbral. ■;-,.-:."• '" ■'• • ■■',-'- ■~ i Eumoufs are. abroad as to a hostile demon-, i stration. Whilst,these rumours ard hot taken' ; too''seriously, ,it is nevertheless considered I certain, in well-informed'quarter's; that-some- I -thing in '.tlie nature of a counter-demonstration < .will bo. made during the day. Stfbrig pr'ecau-: i tionary; measures"■ are consequently' being--taken i by'the-policfe.'-whb'willbe out in full force. I :' On 'the whole' the Auckland reception pro- i raises'. to,, be:ati' least'. tinged: with luke-warm-n'ess. ' "■ i •I'.'rS''' .-,, -v ~ ."■:■',..'..:■■ ■ "■,■'■-':■' ■«