THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8435, 6 May 1907, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

BANQUETED BY THE EMPIRE LEAGUE. LONDON, May 3., The Victoria League entertained the wives and daughters of the Premiers and colonial Ministers at a luncheon. Princess Louise was present. The British Empire League and the British Science Guild gave a banquet to the Premiers at the Hotel Metropole, at which three hundred were present, including Lord Hugh Cecil, Lord Kelvin, and leading scientists and educationalists. Lord Derby, chairman, on behalf of the League, proposed "The Premiers." He was supported by the new Chancellor of Oxford University (Lord Curzon), on behalf of the Science Guild. Lord Curzon declared that the Universities of Montreal, Melbourne, Sydney, and New Zealand looked forward to interchange of students and professors with the Motherland. Mr Deakin, replying, said the Imperial problem is to retain the principle of self-government, while not leaving the self-governing colonies scattered and disunited, and not leaving them until the hour of emergency to improvise expedients for unity. Sir Joseph Ward referred to the work of the Empire League in New Zealand, and was loudly cheered. Received May 5, 5.38 p.m. LONDON, May 4. The Premiers attended a review of sixty modern warships, representing the home fleet, at Portsmouth and Spithead. The Premiers at the' outset were on board the Dreadnought watching a mimic attack upon her by torpedoes and submarines. The destroyer Coquette, in a heavy wash of the sea, crashed into a coalhulk crowded with sightseers. The Coquette's bov/s were damaged. The boat has been docked.