THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 39

THE PRIME MINISTER

HIS NORTHERN TOUR

KAWAKAWA, February 23. The- Prime Minister was most cordially received 'on his journey front Whangarei to Ka-wakawa to-day, the district turning out from far and" near to bid him welcome on his first visit. Before leaving for Russell this evening he delivered a public address to Kawakawa residents, during 'which he indicated that railway communication with. Whangarei would be established before verylong. The present distance between the rail heads is some eight miles. Sir Joseph was accorded a vote of thanks and conft dence.

RTJSSELL, February 26. At his rncgting at "Russell to-night th« Prime Minister was presented toith an address of welcome to the district, signed by" many of the leading northern chiefs. Sir Joseph, expressed his best wishes for the future prosperitj and 1 happiness of the race, coupled" with the hope that they would assist the Health 1 Department in every wav possible in its efforts to secure sanitary- homes- and: healthy conditions for the Native- race. Irr hia address the Prime Minister dealt with" the- advisability of establishing » wirefess 1 telegraip-h system in the Dominion, to include communication with- the islands m the Pacific connected with New Zealand. A vote of thank* and confidence was carried. The party 1 leaves for Mangonui m the moraine, aad this will 'be the furthest north visited. February 27. Speaking here, the Prime Minister referred fe the exorbitant rate* farmers and producers had' to pay for freights through, >the preponderating influence of the French on, the Council of Administration of the Suez Canal: He considered it a grand stroke of policy on the part of Disraeli .when he secured the Suez Cana) shares, but with the revolution that had gone on in the Old World what was aiK right 25 yeara ago ww not all right to-day. In a few years th« 'Panama Canal would be opened by the TJnited' States, witfi a higfi protective tariff. . making the - journey Home; for cargo steamers four days ettorter. Was- it likely [that Americana were going to drive their 'trade away to Suez, by excessive terms? 'Though, this fact was impressed upon the . British Government, it stood at ease in the matter. The imposition that was af,--. , fectinsr their trade in respect of rates ehould be withdrawn. At the Imperial Conference he had' urged this, and in- addition that Australia and Xew Zealand ehould hsve a representative- on the Suez Canal Board to stir members of it up to- the fact of the injustice being done to producers. [ The Prime Minister also referred to wire-1-sss- telegraph stations. He said that when these were in existence they would, nevei .be handed over to any private or publiccorporation. They wduld be kept and maintained for the, .people, and' the beat 'system would tie obtained. The system was now at such: V state of" perfection that it 'could be- successfully established' to cony 'municate from on& end Off the Dominion to the other, or with the intercolonial' or coastal ships in. case . of acci- ' dent. He had tried to get the Australian Government to establish a highpower station for the transmission of messages between the two countries or with steamers. He believed an installation could be effected on good terms, and the sysetm, obviously with great advantage, could be introduced to the outlying islands in the Pacific This would prove a great boon 'to residents in- those jsolated parts of th« •world. MANGONUI February 27. ■ The Prime Minister reached MangonuJ from Russell to-day on his northern tour, this be-ing the extreme northern point of the visit. He made a -flying trip by motor car into- the back-blocks, going as ' far as Krataia. 30 miles inland, delivered a speech, and was banqueted on his return to Ma-ngonui, receiving a vote of thanka "and confidence. ItT-morrow he will proceed to Qfaaewai. KOHUKOHU, March. I. : The Prime Minister, accompanied by ■ Lady- Ward, reached Kohnkohu to-night, having come overland by motor car from Whangaroa. ATI of the more, important centres on the Eaat Coast have been vieited, and" most cordial receptions hay« been extended \tq the Minister wherevei he has gone. The tour- of the other side of the pent insula will be commenced on Monday, and will last until the end- of the week> KATTFET, March 2. • The Prime Minister had a. long day to~ c day, travelling; 715 miles ftj launch and 1 . motor car, and adtefeesmg; * meeting- at Kaihu tonight, besides r.ee«»ivin«r deputations. He expressed the opinion at the meeting that road? boards should no* have road' work going on unless they had" a .highly-trained and experienced engineer working for them. A motion of thanks and confidence was passed.

' It has been noticed that the irrepressible, ' rabbit has found the- dry season, more con- : genial for multiplication at its kind than, was thought possible when feed" has been so scarce (says the Wairarapa- Age). Tha .bush fires have also sent "bunuy" out ' into the open, country,, and 1 the settlera aw ' about pa tafca full atfcvairtege of this fact • Poiaoninjr is being, proseeuteij vigoronsLy. ; Twer brothers name^BJggs. killed- thxe< ' black: anraces air tipper- Timbo, Victoria. '■ ;Bac£i- smdie- wtt tebeut BfJb lanjg, and; when, ;they- wexe eu* cftat. one Hact 30' young: one? } inside, tm<£iift& otSer- two 25 awk— nmkimr U total of 85 killea.