THE PREMIER AT GREYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 7, 9 January 1902, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT GREYMOUTH.

A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. PER PftESS ABSOQL4TION. Gkktmooth, January 7. At a luncheon, in responding to the toast of his health, the Premier said he had never seen the coast so prosperous and the people so happy and contented. He said there was a great future before the coast when tbe coal measures were developed and communication opened by rail to Ohristchurch. He hoped he would be Premier whon he could leave Qreymouth after breakfast and have supper at Ohristchurcb. He felt confident the problem of getting the line through would be satisfactorily undertaken and ii; would not b3 far distant. He said he was too far advanced in years to seek fresh fields. He was contested and happy in New Zealand,! whicb, he was proud to say, was in a! prosperous state. The output of gold from the coast this year was the largest since 1871, and when the properdredges got to work the industry would largely increase. He .felt the strain cf the last ten years and nature could not long hold out under the pressure. He would need to slacken down. Government had done a wise thing in bringing Mr. Bogue to report on the line, and he did not think the engineers of the colony would take it as a slight. The timber industry required mora care, for if the way of getting timber out as at preeent was adopted there would soon bo no timber at all. The present system of education was good, but they must go in for technical education, as Germany, France, and America were able to show them the way. What was wanted on the coast was means of communication jso that tourists cuuld see the wonders lof the coast. He would again visit the coast in about nix weeks, and would turn the first sod of the Ross-Hokitika 'railway, which would opan up a large [extent of country. He would lay before his colleagues the argent necessity of the Ngahiue-Blackball bridge, and if they were agreeable he would have the pleasure when oa the coast, of driving the first pile.

The Premier received a good hearing and was repeatedly applauded. The party left with the good wishes of all, amidst roaring cht era.