SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8336, 19 January 1907, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

RECEPTION AT DUNEDIN.. By Telegraph—Press AssociationDUNEDIN, January 18. There was a large gathering in theGarrison Hall this evening, on the occasion of the reception to Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister, the spacious' building being packed to the doors. Sir Joseph was played from his hotel to the 1 Hall by the Dunedin Pipe Band, and on entering the Hall was enthusiastically cheered. TheMayor (Mr George Lawrence) occupied the chair, and seats on the platform were also occupied by the Hon. J. A. Millar, Hon. R. McNab, members of the Legislative Council, House of Representatives, and all classes of the community. Mr James Mills presented the Premier "with a beautifully-illuminated; address encased in a handsome album... Mr Mills, who spoke on behalf of the pmmercial interests, said that all' shades of political opinion were represented at the gathering, which was purely a demonstration in honour of the Prinze Minister of the colony. Mr H. Hosking spoke for the learned professions, and Mr J. :B. Paul for the industrial classes, both of whom congratulated the Premier on the high office he had attained. The Prime Minister, on rising to j reply, was greeted with a perfect ovation, the audience standing en masse and singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow^" Sir Joseph, after thanking the people of Dunedin for the address, addressed himself to matters that are to be discussed at the Imperial Conference, laying stress on the advisability of setting up a Council: on which the Colonies would be represented, so that the desires of the colonial Governments might be brought prominently before the Home Government. He also devoted some time to the position of Native lands, and announced . that the members of the Native Lands Commission would be Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice), and Mr Ngata, M.H.R. He also intimated that Mr Gilfedder, solicitor, of Invercargill, and Mr Fisher, agent for the Public Trustee at Wanganui, had been ap- , pointed Native Court Judges in order to expedite the work of individualising the titles to Native land. The question of appointing a third member of the Native Lands Commission would be considered on his return to Wellington. Sir Joseph, on resuming his seat, was heartily cheered, and the audience sang, "Rule Britannia." During the evening a capital musical programme was contributed by the Dunedin Orchestral Society and a number of vocalists,