The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-18
PROMINENT
CANADIANS
Ors.Oronhyatekha
and Montague
in Honolulu.
LATTER FORMERLY
STATE SECRETARY
Full. Blooded Mohawk Indian Who
Might Have Been Premier
of Canada.

Hon. W. H. Montague. p. C, late Sec
rotary of State for Canada, and tn,
1 Hon. DR.. Oronhyatekha, are through pas
j sengers on the steamship Aorangi from
Australia for Canada. They speak il
the highest terms of Captain Phillip!
and his officers, every comfort having
been provided for them on the voyage
DR.. Montague was in public life in Can
ada long time. having been a member
OF the Dominion Parliament for years
He went to Australia in March II at
tend the opening of the new Federal
Parliament and to consult in g,vcrn-
mental matters in Victoria and do some
things in which the Independent Order
of Foresters were Interested. lie is now
returning to Canada.
Hon. DR.. oronhyatellha but recen .ly
visited Australia upon a general Tour Of
inspection of the society of which he is
the Supreme Chief Ranger. This is an
Exceptionally large fraternaI life insur-
ance company doing business on the
continents of America. Europe, Asia
and Australia Something OF its
strength may be understood when it is
learned that no less than $4,000 mean
bers are found among citizens o. the
United States.
DIR. Oronhyatekha is a remarkable
man. He is a fuIl-bIooded Mohawk In
dian, being a descendant of the United
Empire Loyalists Indians. Forty years
ago he presented the address upon the
behalf of his nation to the present King
of England, who was then visiting Cana
da as the Prince of Wales, and immedi-
ately thereafter was invited by Sir Hen
1y Ackland, who accompanied the prince,
to visit England and to take course at
oxford University, which he did. He is
also d graduate of the Toronto Univer-
sity in medicine, and for many years
was q practitioner in Canada. He has
always refused to enter public life,
though in the opinion of Sir John Mac
donald. the greatest of all the Canadian
premiers, DR.. Oronhyatekya would have
been Urine minister had he done so. He
has for twenty years been the head OF
the Foresters body, and under him 1t has
proved one of the greatest institutions
of the kind in the world. He is at pres
ent also Consul General for Liberia in
Canada. The chief is of remarkable
physique, being one of the most magnifi-
cent looking men Of his country.
With regard to Australian affairs, DR..
Montague said the new parliament was
laying out the founda ton work Of the
confederation. The tariff which had been
recently introduced was a pretty high
one. and was causing great deal of dis
cussion. The free trade elements In some
of the tSates Of the Commonwealth are
very strong.
"One of the most difficult questions
which Australians have to deal with at
present said DR. Montague last even
he Do
cific Islands, white Australia being the
policy of the government This is strong |
ly opposed in Queensland, where Kama |
kas are employed on the large sugar
plantations. Something of the Importance
of that industry may be understood when
il is known that no less than $30OO0,OOO
are invested in sugar plantations in that
State alone. Labor legislation is in ,
very advanced way in most of the /,
States. In some of them the minimum ,
wage scale has been opposed. The rate |
per day placed it at about $1.ST per men. /
In New Zealand and in mos of the |
States, old age pension laws exist and I,
these are becoming quite burden upon
the public eXcheQuer."
DIR. Montague said he found Australian
manufactures in large quantities In sgd
ney and Melbourne, and in other parts
of Australia. He was also glad to be
able to say that he had found large guam
titles of Canadian imports, particularly .
in agricultural machinery and canned ,
goods He said that Canadians hoped to
get better trade connections with Austria :
liza than al present when the Pacific ca
BILE becomes an accomplished fact Cana
da gives Australia a preference bat this
has not been reciprocated in the new tar
if, but DR.. Montague has hopes that it
will be later on.
He noticed while In Australia that gov
fol l.
public works was almost universal In
all of the colonies there were only two
or three short pieces of railroad which
did not belong to the people, and in many
parts the trans and electric systems are
also held by the governments. He /
thought the system had some things to
commend it, but there was no question
places to retard private enterprise. and
consequently, the development of the
country. Australians. however, were a
progressive people. and he was glad to
say that they were amongst the most
hospitable he had ever met For a num-
her of years Australia has been suffering
from drouth, but the present season
promises to be Il productive one, both IN
the agricultural and grazing districts
and he thought that the sheep ranges
would give large returns.
He found an exceedingly friendly feel
me e8ISllhS IN the HllnuS OF AuStrdlanS
toward the people of the United States.
and there was profound regret all over
Australia at the crime which had caused
the death of President Mckinley. He
was glad to know that the same syrnpa-
thy existed in Canada. He felt that Can
ada was friendly IN the fuIles: possible
of that word toward the Amer
lean nation. There IS no reason why the
two peoples should not get along AMIGA
bly, and comfortably and be the best Of
ne:ghbors.
When asked as to what he thought OF
Honolulu. he said he was charmed with