THE PREMIER'S RETURN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 203, 1 October 1909, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S RETURN

AUCKLAND'S WELCOME.

MESSAGE FROM KING EDWARD.

By Telegraph—Press Association. ' Auckland, Last Night. Sir .10-eph and Lady Ward and party arrived ironi Suva by U.M.S. Challeuger at about 10 a.m. to-day, after a good trip. Light rain fell during the forenoon, but it cleared oft' before mid-day, and the reception took place in fair weather, although a slight shower fell towards its conclusion. The Prime Minister landed from the warship at 3 o'clock and a procession was formed from the wharf to Albert Park. The shipping and city were decorated with bunting, and a large crowd of people assembled.in the streets, ul'ini; the water front and at Albert Park. There was a good turn-out of volunteers and cadets, the former lining a portion of the line of route of the procession of carriages. The veterans formed a guard of honor, at the landing steps and also lit the Park, where several thousand people had assembled. Sir Joseph was welcomed by the Mayor and presented with a handsome illuminated address.

Sir Joseph, who was received with loud a|iplniise. expressed pleasure at the excellent reception. In referring to what had taken place at the Defence Con lerence. lie said that he had not «\vcr.vd one iota from the principle laid down in the Dreadnought oiler, viz.,"that Xev> Zealand should attach herself emphatically to the British Navy as part ami not a section of it. The construction of a local navy had its attractive aspect, hut it would mean an expense .altogether beyond the capacity of our country, even if the population was frve or ten times as great an at present. He spoke of the excellent object lessen which the Dreadnought offer had afforded to the Old Country. He delivered a message from the King, in which his Majesty conveved his best wishes for the future of Xw Zealand. The gathering concluded with' cheers for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.

THE PREMIER'S DOINGS. A BUSY TRIP. Auckland, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of an Interview to-day, said that leaving New Zealand ns he did on the 18th June, he had in the short space of 102 days encircled the globe. Out of that period 26 days were spent in London, and the balance (76) in travelling. There had been no stop on the road Home from the day of his arrival in Sydney until joining the train and Marseilles from there, and indeed until his arrival in London it had been an unbroken travel. The work connected with the Conference was completed only late on the evening of the 20th August, and the following morning at 10 o'«loek left by train to join the steamer Campania at Liverpool, sailing that afternoon 'or New York. He spent one day in Montreal to meet, by appointment, the British Ambassador, who had travelled a very long distance through America to meet him there. A couple of days were spent in Ottawa, when an opportunity was afforded of discussing public matters with Sir Wilfrid Lauricr. On the road to Vancouver a stay of one nigfct was made at Niagara Falls, this being the only diversion and that for a short period of three hours only. In the whole journey from the beginning of the trip until its completion, the greatest interest was taken in the re presentative of New Zealand and manv courtesies \verc extended to him. This Sir Joseph naturally took as a compliment to the people of New Zealand expressed through himself. Upon his arrival at Fiji a short stay of a couple of hours only was made, and the. Challenger was then joined, an immediate start being made for New Zealand. Every effort was made by Sir Joseph to nrpt back earlier, but the work of the Conference, highly important as it was, rendered it impossible for him to have London sooner than he did. '