The Premier.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 10 April 1902, Page 18

The Premier.

The time is drawing near when the Premier is to sail away for the ' Big Smoke.' Like the powder-monkey : ' Soon he'll be in London town, And see the King with fche golden crown.' He is leaving with part of the Tenth Contingent. On the day of hie departure, then, if you should perceive a tremble and a heave, and ace the pavement coming up to meet your head, you will know the cause. Richard will have stepped off the Colony. At present he is busy packing. He is taking his tooth-brush, his secretary, and his celluloid cuffs. And report has it that he was seen the other day in the backyard of a boiler-maker's shop getting measured for half a dozen handkerchiefs and a nevr umbrella. I don't believe it, however. It is more likely that he will surprise the natives by appearing as a count or an earl, or a noble of some sort. The whole outfit, including ermine and a coronet warranted to stand the rain, can be bought for one hundred guineas. A hundred guineas is nothing to a man who has been allowed £1500 for expenses and full salary besides. As lam anxious that New Zealand should be properly represented, I wißh to give i a hint to Mr. Seddon regarding his deportment. Masters of etiquette prescribe the rules necessary to be observed when in the presence of royalty or other exalted persons It is most earnestly to be hoped that Mr. Seddon will buy a handJ book on the subject and Btudy it in his spare time on the Drayton Grange. I don't want a Government billet for mentioning this May I be considered a bob-tailed army mule if I haven't more patriotism than that. I'll not take a billet from the Government until they adopt Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy; Then they can appoint me a lineman.