RECEPTION TO THE PREMIER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 19 January 1907, Page 3

RECEPTION TO THE PREMIER

EXrill'SlAsTfC GATHERING IN DUNE 1)1 X. arEECJI BY SIR JOSEJ.'iL. X ATI YE LAND COMMISSION ANNOUNCED. . vr Press Association. bvxEuix, .lannary IS. TLcre was a great gathering ja the Garrison Hail this evening, on the occasion of a reception to the llou. Sir J. (r. Ward, Prime Minister, tlie spae.o;is building being packed to the doors. Sir .Joseph was played from his hotel to the hail by the Dunedin l'ipe Band, aud on entering the hail was enthusi-a--lii-:iliy cheered. The Mayor, MiGeorge Lawrence, occupied the chair, and seats on the platform were aiso occupied by the llou. .1. A. Miller, lion li. McX<ib, members of the Legislative Coan.-ii, House of Keprc-s.-ntativei aud ail elasscs of the comliiuuitv.

Mr-laar s Ji ills j tvs-.-iited the I'rtini.r ii ii.lt a beaulifuily illiiminaa-a at', dreis', encased' in a iia dsonie album. Air* Nii! Is, nii> sfokeon bckalf of the cim-aer/iii intc'csls, said .ill shinies of potili.-a! oji'.uion wire lepfesentcil in lue ;;utlieriiig, wir.ch was purely a demonstration in iiouonr ol tie Prime Mir.ht-r of tho colony. Mr I tasking spoke for Ihe Jcarned profession;, aud Mr .J. I. Paul for the industrial classes, bjlh of whom eonL'ratuiatc.l tlie Premier oil the oliiee lie had attained.

The Prime Minister, on ri.-i;ig to reply, was grecied with a perfect ovation, the audience standing in musse and singing " for he's a joiiy good fellow." Sir Joseph, al'.er thanking the people of Dunedin for the address, addressed himself t) matters that are to be discussed at the Imperial Conference, laying stress on the advisability of setting up a Council ou which the colonies would be represented, so that the desires of the colonies' g.vcrments might be brought prominently before the Home government. lie also devotc.l some time to Ike pr.silion of Native Lands, and announced that the members of the Natjve Lands Commission wo-.iid be Sir lioberl Stout, Chief Justice, and Mr Ngaia, M.tl.li. lie at-o intimated that ill- 0: tedder, s'.lieil :r. of Juwrcargill, and Mr t r-.iicr, for t!n- I'uolie Trust al W'cUigamii (-ie) bad been appointed Native Land Court in oi'd-r t-i expedite tile work of iieii\ idua ising tides to native hinds. The question of appointing the third lneinli.-r of the Native Lauds Commi-sinn would be considered on his return lo eliingtoii. Sir .l»<epli, on r. les -'-ai. heartily ciieered. a;ni tie- audience "ltille llritaiinia. Oirring the evening a capital musical Dunedin Orchestral Society, and vo ea!. .