MR SEDDON AT BLENHEIM.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 December 1901, Page 4

MR SEDDON AT BLENHEIM.

(PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.) BtENttElMj Dec 12. The Premier arrived overland from Cheviot at 4 30 today; and was enthusiastically welcomed by a large number of settlers, members of the Borough Council, railway league, and the local bodies, who had journeyed out by rail. The Preniier gave a short speech, in which he said that the gathering marked the progress that had been made since his last visit ten years ago. Then, as now, he recognised that Blenheim had a future that would be accomplished by population; Kaferrihg to the country through he had passed during the past two days, he said that though tile general cry along the line was for rain; the conclusion he had come to was that the great requirement was population. He went on to describe the terrible effe3t of the earthquakes at Cheviot, and the destructiDn of the settlers' houses and the wreck and ruin on all sides. Those who had not been on the spot could have but a slight idea of the disastrous effects. An address was presented on behalf of the settlers of Awatere* It noted ihat Mr Seddon was the first Prime Minister to pass through Kaikoura since Sir F. Wi Id's visit. The address congratulated the Premier on his long term of office, to which he replied that after ten years the people of New Zealand had not come to the conclusion that a change of Government was desirable. He also spoke of the success of the land settlement policy.