BANQUET TO PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 387, 11 April 1902, Page 2

BANQUET TO PREMIER.

SOLIDARITY OF THE EMPIRE. CABLE CONNECTION WITH FIJI. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The Premier was entertained at a banquet at the Empire Hotel this evening by a large and representative gathering of citizens. The Mayor, Mr J. G. W. Aitken, presided. The toasts honored were the Governor and the guest of the evening.

The latter was proposed by Sir James Prendergast, who paid a tribute to the humanity and bravery of the troops in South Africa. He also eulogised the services of the Premier to the Empire in regard to the war, and hoped that advantage would be taken of the Coronation to show the world the solidarity of the Empire. The colony, he said, eould not be better represented on that occasion than by Dir Seddon. (Cheers.) He manifestly possessed the capacity of guaging public opinion and announcing wbat was likely to be acceptable to the people. Dr. Grace, supporting the toast, said that although he had differed from Dir Seddon politically, he admitted the sagacity of the Premier, and of what he had done for the colony. The Premier replied in a speech freely punctuated with applause. He announced that he had just received the following communication from Dir Allardyce, Administrator of Fiji: “ I desire to offer you and the people of New Zealand congratulations on the occasion of this colony being connected with New Zealand by cable.” (Loud and continued applause.) That communication was only the forerunner of a much closer communication with Fiji. (Hear, hear.) The Premier was still speaking as the telegraph office was about to close.