MR. SEDDONS EIGHTH YEAR OF PREMIERSHIP.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 May 1901, Page 2

MR. SEDDONS EIGHTH YEAR OF PREMIERSHIP.

The Mayor, the Hon. Mr. Kerr, Mr. Guinncs-i M.H.R., Mr. Kettle, Chairman of the Harbor Boa>-d, Borough Councillors, the Mayor of Kumara, and othor gentlemen met the hon. the Premier at the Court House, Greyraouth, ■ at eleven o’clock this forenoon, to offer him their congratu'ations upon his eighth anniversary of his Premiership. The Mayor : Mr. Seddon wo are here to-day to offer you our hearty congratu-' lations upon the eighth anniversary of your premiership and to assure you of our appreciation of your actions as Premier, and of the admirable measures passed by your government during those eight years. We also desire as West Coasters to accord you our personal assurance of good will and to express the hope that you will long continue to occupy your nresont position in full enjoyment of health.

Mr Scddon, in reply, said the little ceremony that day was as unexpected as it was pleasurable to him. He had for eight years occupied the highest position it was in the power of the people of New Zealand to bestow upon him, and it was particularly gratifying to him to meet with 4 such congratulations and expressions of confidence from his old West Coast friends, among whom there existed a bond of brotherhood that was only dissolvable by death. He had just received a telegram from his daughter at Wellington stating that three letters had arrived from his sou now in South Africa and his friends would be pleased to learn that he was in the best of health and was going to be promoted. This news to him was most pleasing on such a day. The day was a bright and beautiful one after the West Coast weather they had had and it corresponded with his own feelings. His daughter was now out of danger and he had round him the friends of his early West Coast days congratulating him and appreciating his past actions. This was truly a reward for his toils and troubles. And all else, so far as this colony was concerned, looked promising. He was preparing to make the country acquainted with its financial position, and this he might at once say far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. Progress, prosperity and advancement could be recorded. He was in the position of a Chairman of a Company who was about to present a real, good balance-sheet, and the thought that the future looked even brighter than the past cheered and compensated him for all the worry appertaining to oifice. Many people said he was a lucky man, and doubtless there were circumstances in the life of every man that tended to aid him, and he had his aids in this respect; but, if he had, he had also his troubles, his dark clouds and worries. His ministry had to face more serious questions than had fallen to the lot of any other government in this colony. They had been called on at a moment’s notice to face a crisis that would have plunged the country in confusion and disaster. He referred to the Bank of New Zealand legislation, and, looking back after all danger had disappeared, ho felt that Government had done its duty to the country, .and now there was no longer any doubt in regard to the institution again regaining a sound position. There was one matter of great regret to him in connection with his term of olllcc, and that was that with the exception of Messrs. Ward and Carroll, all who were associated with his Cabinet at the first had through ill-health or death ceased to be with him. The last to leave was Mr. Cadman, who found the work too much, and whose health broke down under the strain. His trusty lieutenant (John M‘Ken/.ie), whose services to the country all admitted, was perforce compelled to resign. It was, uowover, pleasing to know (hat he was now recovering, and it was fervently to bo hoped that he would be sufficiently re stored to health to long enjoy life. It was the toil of office work that had caused his break-down, and it should never he forgotten teat it was working for the people of New Zealand that caused such office work and collapse. Personally he was blessed with a constitution possessed by few men. He could not pretend to be as strong as in former years, for years and the strain of office must have its effect upon the most robust. At the same time he felt hearty and had plenty of work loft in him yet, and so long as ho enjoyed the confidence of the people of New Zealand, and his health hept up, so long would he con- 1 tinue to direct the affairs of the colony. • It was with pardonable pride that he I

noted the condition of the people, the evidence of prosperity and general industrial advancement. The past years had been, good, the prospect for the future was better. It was the same country possessing the same natural advantages, and peopled with the same people as when they took oflice, and yet none would gainsay the fact of the great social and material advancement and prosperity. He thanked those present for their kindly feelings, and trusted it would be recorded of him that he had endeavoured to do his duty to the people and country. (Loud cheers.)

The Premier and party then, at tliA invitation of the Mayor adjourned to tow Club room, Albion Hotef, where in sparkling wine the health of the Premier and Mrs Seddon was drunk with enthusiasm.