A BRIEF HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 35, 10 February 1909, Page 9

A BRIEF HOLIDAY.

,: AT / ; \ AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW* ' CBy Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) ; ROTORUA, Tuesday. Sir Joseph Ward was waited.upon at the Grand Hotel by a representative of the "Auckland Star" last night. The . Premier. is understood to be having a reet, but he was found engaged with his Private Secretary.in a room that has \ temporarily been; converted into an office. t On the table was a pile of official correspondence a-oout a foot high, and beside it a heap of telegrams. "Yes/1 am up here for a rest, and feel very fit," remarked the Premier, with his customary .genial smile. "I thought I had escaped the Press up here." In reply to a remark that Rotorua looked very dark, considering it was suppoeed to be lit by a Government electric plant, the Premier remarked, with a smile, "I noticed that, and inquired the reason. I was informed that this is supposed to be a moonlight night consequently the lights are not turned on The clouds have since come up, hence this darkness. I may say, however, that the power station at Okere is being increased, so that there -will be double lighting power within a very short period. There are still improvements required at Rotorua. For one thing, we must have a good Government readingroom here, where people can refer to files ■ of the leading daily papers. I see a , very great improvement in Rotorua since my last visit. A lot of building , has taken place, and the roads are in a . much better condition than they were formerly." "Is the new bath-house proving a success 1" asked the reporter. . "Oh, that will be all right," replied the Premier. "I have to look ahead ; now to get a bath, which shows the place • is in great demand." POST OFFICE REQUIREMENTS. "Did you notice some remarks published as being made by Mr. Rutherford to the effect that, to his knowledge, the Wellington Post Office was not fully occupied?" was the next question put to the Premier. ; "Yes," replied Sir Joseph. "I may say ' at once that it is not correct. Mr. ' Rutherford has evidently been misin- ' formed. As a matter of fact we are \ paying at the present time £2660 per annum for outside premises for the use ' of the Postal Department alone in Wel- \ lintjton. But that does not represent the whole cost, because wherever you have a 1 divided office and divided staff you cannot get the same results as if they were all together. Then, too, it necessitates i the employment of special, messengers. ; From a public point of view. there is, i however, the important-point, that, it-is ■ inconvenient to have the Postal"Depart- ■ ment offices divided,' as £hey are at pre- • sent at Wellington. You will see, there- ■ fore, that Mr. Rutherford's statement is t misleading; and does not correctly indit cate the position. The general developl ment of the Postal Department through- ■ cut the whole Dominion during the last 1 five to ten years has been so enormous t that there is no post office in the largo I centres that has not been increased. You - will remember that some time ago there • was expenditure on post • offices in i Auckland, Christchurch; and Dunedin, • and I hope shortly to be in a position to ; accept a tender for the new post office i that is to be erected in Auckland." : PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. . ' Asked regarding the proposed appoint- > ment of mining experts by the Govern- ! ment to thoroughly-prospect both islands 1 for gold, the Premier explained that the 1 present system of subsidising private ! prospecting parties had not proved entirely satisfactory. It was therefore proposed to appoint four experts to underi take' prospecting, not on known gold- [ fields, but to try and find other deposits I of the precious metals hitherto unlocatj cd.i. "By that means," said Sir Joseph, ( "we hope to get much better results. , For instance, North or Auckland very f little is known of the mineral value. t of the districts, and expert prospectors might discover an important field." , I "Will they test the Urewera Country?" . • was the next question. , "Well," replied Sir Joseph, "at the pre- , sent time matters are hung up- there , owing to some native difficulty that has arisen." SIR CHARLES LUCAS. With regard to the proposed visit to , the Dominion of Sir Charles Lucas, the ' Premier stated that ihe had received a , cablegram from the Secretary of State through the Governor, notifying that Sir | Charles Lucas was coming to New Zea- . land. "I think," said Sir Joseph, "it is ,' a very good idea for one connected with those responsible for the oversea portions of the Empire to pay a visit as proposed, ■ because it will enable them to get more i into touch witJi colonial affairs. Tho matter was mentioned at the Premiers' t Conference. It was strongly urged that ■ the Hon. Mr. Chamberlain should visit . the colonies at that time,. But it was i pointed out how difficult ; it was for > the head of such a department to get ' away for a long period. No doubt that • is the reason why Sir Charles Lucas is ; being sent now. I feel sure his visit will have beneficial results." DEATH OF HONE HEKE. ; Referring to the death of Mr. Hone : Heke, the Premier said the news came ! as a. surprise to him. He knew Mr. Heke '■ was s-ick, but had reason to hope ho would recover. "Mr. Heke's death," said ■ Sir Joseph, "is, in my opinion, very regrettable. He was a'striking representa- '■ tive of the Maori race. Though recognised as a rangatira of the Ngapuhi tribe ' Mr Heke was distinctly, as a Maori member, a representative of the whole of his race. Tha-t was shown by the keen interest Mr. Heke ever evinced in Maori affairs- Vet, at the same time, 'he was much interested in matters affecting the pakchas, and during his whole Parliamen--1 tary career displayed considerable know- ' ledge of public affairs affecting both ' races. Mr. Heke's genial nature made him many friends, and fairness was one ' of his many good characteristics, to 1 which might also be added persistency 1 when 'he started on anything. He had • also a good knowledge Of European liter- ; ature. . Mr. Heke's death will be felt by • the Maori race particularly. His influence over ihis people jnay be gathered 1 from the fact "that at the recent eleo- ; tions, although strongly , opposed, .he did ' not even go into his electorate for some ■ time before the poll, or even during the ' contest, and still he came in at ■ the head of the poll by an overwhelming majorL ity. I am certain I am voicing the senti- " ments of Mr. Heke's brother members in 1 the House when I say they will greatly ' deplore his death. ' I have telegraphed my deep sorrow to the father of Sir, Heke, as well as to the Ngapuhi tribe. The Hon. Jas. Carroll ;has telegraphed : that he feels Mr. ileke's death, deeply, . ! also that telegrams of (sympathy are , pouring in from members all over the Dominion. The Maoris are already

crowning m, air. umrroii states, and are demanding that the late chiefs body ehall- lie in state. It has been embalmed, e*SKS§UJ* P u t J ,l * . lea 4 cpfßn, and Mr. 'P*^?^ 1 abandoned all engagement! to. attend to what is due under the circumstances. According to the Maori custom, it is intended that after the body has laid in state for some days at a mare, all the Maori aristocrats will con* vey the remains of the. dead chiif home to the land of his forefathers in the North." OTHER MATTERS. Asked regarding iprobable land proposals, the Premier eaid the subject wae a large one that he was not yet prepared 4o make «any statement about. "I am just .having a rest at present, and intend to remain -here," gaid the-Premier, "until the 17th or 18th. I shall come down to Auckland to attend the Premier Picnic at Motutapu, and before leaving, the NoTth there are several matters in the district -that, I shall vprobably put through." -• • ■ . ;. .