THE PREMIER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8302, 4 December 1906, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

VISIT TO NELSON. [By Telegraph—Press Association. '"• NELSON, December 3. , The Premier was met by the Mayor on bis arrival, this morning, and at noon opened the new Post Office. ■ln the oourse of his speech the Premier said that New Zealand was the most up-to-date country in the world with regard to post ofhoes.and had the moat offices in proportion to population, aa well as the cheapest telegraphic communication. He gave an interesting sketch of the establishment of Nelson and the first, settlement in the island. He alluded to the fifties, when Nelson was the first port of sell for the mail steamers, and gave interesting statistics of the postal business here, concluding by.hoping that the new building wouli soon be too small for the growing business. It was announced that telephonio extension along the western side of Pelorus Sound and the French Pass had been authorised, the work to be put in band early. In the afternoon . a number of deputations waited on the Premier, wbo made no promises save that ha would enquire into the matters put before him. Later he was driven to, and shown over the new College, with which he ex pi eased himself well pleased.

lu the evening the Premier, Lady Ward and Miss Waid were entertained by the people of Nelson at the Provincial Hall, where Lady Ward and her daughter were presented with bouquets, and the Mayor extended a welcome. The Premier, in reply, avoided party topioa and referred with pride to the railway servioe of the colony and alludei to the apnroaahingJColonial Confer enoe in London. Though no jingoist, he strongly recognised the necessity of increased support to the British Navy for protection and the maintenance of peace. He also spoke strongly of the "yellow peril," the used tor the maintenance of race purity, and guarding against the influx of Chinese. i The Premier was presented with photographs of the opening of the Post Office. The visitors left, at 11 o'clock bj the Tutanekai for Auckland.