THE SMALL SETTLERS' FRIEND

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 15

THE SMALL SETTLERS' FRIEND

THE LATE MR. ALEXANDER REESE. After tho minutes had been read at the meeting of tho 'Land Board yesterday, the Commissioner (Mr. James Mackenzie) stated that his first duty was a very melancholy one, viz., to formally acquaint the board of the death of their colleague, Mr. Alexander Reese, which sad event took place in the Pahiatua Hospital- on Tuesday last after a most painful.; 'illness. Mr. Reese's connection' with ; the board had commenced in 188 C, twenty-fonr years ago,' and with the exception of'one considerable 'break it had been continuous. Unfortunately since his reappointment last year ho had been prostrated, by an internal disease that, had terminated fatally.

The Commissioner stated that his own personal friendship with Mr: Roese' extended back to some 30 years, ago, when ho was contractor itf connection with additions to our Land Office here, in what was then the old Provincial Buildings, now replaced by the present brick structure in which. they were located, and he had many opportunities of meotingiMr. Reese after he became a member of the Land Board. Ho. said lie was a man that the more ono came into contact with-the more one learned to respect him. " On the social side of the land question,'. he held tho very strongest convictions,.. in fact, to him complex land problems.became almost a religion, and although few could go the lengths he went, which at times led to his being in a hopeless minority on-.the board, yet once a motion was disposed of all feeling disappeared, and no one was more loyal than ho in upholding any resolution carried by tho majority,. however much it might differ from his own personal belief* Mr. R«ese was essentially the friend of tho small struggling settler, and he was ever forward in giving even the thriftless "ono more chance." He (the speaker) felt sure that ho was only voicing tho feeling : of the board, as well as of our entire Crown tenantry, when he said that- Mr. Reese's loss would be deeply felt by all alike, that they realised that a real "white man" had passed away from their midst, nud that the blank caused would bo hard to fill. Ho would ask the. board to pass tlie following resolution: '\1) That', tho Wellington Land Board desires to place on record its sincere appreciation of the services rendered by the late Mr. Alexander Reese to this. board, its deep • regret at his death, and tho great loss that it entails to us all. (2) That tho board desires to convey to Mr. Reese's widow and family its sympathy in their " bereavement, and directs that this resolution bo entered in tho minutes and a copy of tho samo bo forwarded to - Mrs. Reese." Tho resolutions were passed, tho members standing. Mr. H. T. F,llinghnm also referred to tho devotion of tho late Mr. Reese to the small settler, whore interests he placed before all others. ITo had dono tho small settler many a good turn, his' whole object being lo see that lie was well treated.Ho moved that tho hoard adjourn for nn hour out of respect to tho deceased. This was agreed to. ' Mr. J. Dawson, a brother-in-law of tho deceased, and a member of tlio board, also spoke of tho cood qualities of Mr. Reese, and formally thanked tho 'Commissioner and Mr. Fillingham for (lie kind remarks Ihe.v bad made and the messages forwarded.