THE PREIMIER'S TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2115, 14 February 1908, Page 2

THE PREIMIER'S TOUR.

ADDRESS TO TilE WAIUJ. MIN KltS. I'lciis Association. \VAIHI, Feb. 13. Sir Joseph and Lady Wan/ to-d.iy motored from Paeroa to Wailn, accompanied by Messrs 11. Poland am H. J. Greenslade, M.P.s.A visit was paid to Wnikino en route and Here, alter inspecting the AVailn Company s Victoria battery, the Premier received several deputations, who gave utterance to a number ol local wants. The Premier also addressed a gathering of battery hands on the geneial policy of the Government. >" !l brief reference to the mining .industry, he attributed the decrease ill last year’s gold returns to the cessation of the operations of several d in the South, and prognosticated a future increase in the industry s pio''"on' arrival at Waihi, the Premier was formally welcomed by the iMajoi G\lr ’l'lios. Gihnour) and prominent citizens, after which he devoted two or three hours to the' reception of deputations Tn the evening he deli v,.rod a. public address, and was. accorded a vote of thanks and confidence in the Government. Later Sir Joseph was the guest or the Mayor at a social. To-morrow lm proceeds to the Thames, where ho will speak in the evening. In the course of a reply to one ol the deputations on the question ot the numeration of electricity I™™ water-power for mining purposes, Sir Joseph stated that the Government was formulating conditions unclei which private companies would be enabled to harness the available waters of the Dominion tor power purposes. |