LATE SIR WM. RUSSELL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 4

LATE SIR WM. RUSSELL.

PARLIAMENT'S REGRET.

BOTH HOUSES ADJOURNED.

STRIKING SPEECHES.

"A MAN TO LOOK UP TO,"

Although it has beon quietly expressed, deep regret is tho sentiment universally felt amongst members of Parliament at the death of Sir William Russell. Both Houses yesterday passed resolutions of regret and of sympathy with Lady Russell and her children, and afterwards adjourned as a mark of respect to Sir Win. Russell's memory. In tho speeches that wero delivered, men of opposed parties agreed in paying tribute to tho late Sir Wm. Russell as a man of many admirable qualities, and ono who set a high standard in public lifo. Tho Prime Minister spoke with deep feeling of tho loss that tho country and Parliament had sustained, and his estiinato of the late Sir Wm. Russell was warmly endorsed by Mr. G. W. Russell and other speakers who followed.

In tho House of Representatives only a few minutes were devoted to ordinary business. Tho Prime Minister then moved:—

"Tliat this House place on record its high sense of the services rendered to tho Dominion by tho late Hon. Sir Wm. Russell, member of tho Legislative Council, and formerly a member of this Houge, and respectfully tenders to liis widow and family an assurance of its sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement."

Tho Prime Minister outlined the career of tho late Sir ffm, Russell on tho lines of the brief biography published ii. The Dominion yesterday. "Ono can hardly realise," ho continued, "that Sir Wm. HuSsell, who was about Parliament a very fow days ago attending to his duties, has passed through tlio Parliamentary portals for the last time; but so it has turned out and his namo has been added to tho long roll of prominent Now Zealanders who, during the last few havo passed over to the groat majority—gone to give an account of their stewardship to a Higher Power. Sir, closely associated as I was with Sir Wm. Eussell during tho years when he was Leader of the Opposition, I- can speak of what I know and I can say this: that this country has never seen a truer, moro honourable, more patriotic., man than tho man whose loss we mourn to-day. I havo known him in prosperity, and in adversity; I have known him when suffering family bereavement tho loss of those near and dear te him; and all tho time ho was unselfish, unassuming, unaffected, a mail to like and to look up to, to trust, to respect—all the time a man in tlio truest and best sense of the word. Coming to Now Zealand as ho did in his early manhood ho passed through the stages of soldier, settler, and statesman, and in each ono he was successful, and in each ho did distin-

guished service for the country of his. adoption which he loved so. well. Sir* Wm. Russell was ono of tho very best types of tho British raco, and ono of tho very best types of tho Now Zealand colonist. And now that he has passed away I am quite certain that his personality will never bo forgotten by tho present generation and his memory will bo honoured and respected for generations to como. Sir, speaking for myself, I feel that I have lost ono of my closest and best friends; and. speaking for the country I can say tliat it has lost ono of its best, most useful, and most publicspirited citizens." An Honourable Record. Mr. G. W. Russell apologised for the absence of Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of tho Opposition) and said that it fell to him to Bpoak to the motion before the House. It was always sad when the pall of death foil ovor Parliament, but on this occasion there would bo a feeling of especial sadness because every member, of either branch of tho Legislature. who had had tho privilege of meeting Sir Wm. Russell, must have realised that to know him was to lovo, respect, and admire him. To many members tho departed leader, for so he might bo termed, was known only by name, but there were many in tho House who would, remember him in days past when ho took a prominent place in the polities of New Zealand and boro his part in face of disappointment with tliat storn and inflexible feeling of patience and heroism that always characterised men of his race in times of adversity. It was his fortune to tako part in the proceedings of tho House and tho politics of tho country when Parliament had as its leader tho most dominant tactician and able personality that New Zealand politics had seen. During tho whole of tliat time Captain Russell, as he. then was, boro his part with a devotion that commanded the admiration not only of his friends but of those who wore his political opponents. Night after night ho. was seen, to the very last moment of the sitting, in his place, like the soldier that he was, fearlessly staying at the post of duty. No ono could study his character without realising tliat there was in him a gentleness, nobility, and knightly courtesy and chivalry that commended liim to the heart of every man who came in contact with him. Ho was one of Nature's gentlemen, and 'ho had left an example in tlio politics of this country of which New Zealand might justly bo proud, . and which should be a. priceless heritage to tie youth of our country in days to come. He abstained always from censorious dispraiso of others, and never uttered a harsh or unkindly word When the honour of knighthood was conferred upon him the feeling of the wholo country was that never had knighthood been more worthily bestowed. Ono of the most conspicuous characteristics nf his lifo was his thorough conscientiousness in every act of his political career. He never sought the limelight, and besides carrying out duties which broueht him into the eves of the country, attended with equal assiduity to tho smallest Committee work and tho humblest offices of local government. " So after a long career and a worthy one," continued Mr. Russell. "he passes from tho Parliament of tho country. Ho loaves to us who succeed him an example of fidelity and Belfsacrifico, of devotion to tho principles ho espoused, and what ho believed was the Rood of the country as a whole, according to his light ami according to the principles which he held. On liehalf of the members on this side of the House I exnress our sincere regret with his widow and family in-their bereavement, and I believe, Mr. Speaker, that their grief will be assuaged by the knowledge that throughout New Zealand to-day there will ho a burst of sympathy with them on account of tho loss that they havo sustained." Finally Mr. Russell paid a waTm tribute to the lato Sir William Russell as a sportsman.

A True Sportsman. Mr. G, Hunter (Waipnwa) said that ho had enjoyed the unabated friendship of tho late Sir Win. Russell for over thirty years, and had been largely identified with him in matters of sport. Sinco his earliest days hero Sir William bad taken a prominent interest in sport. Ho was tho first president of the Now Zealand Racing Club, and of tho Racing Conference, and he had done jnore than

anybody else to put matters on a sound and proper footing. Ho took the greatest pleasure in racing tlio horses ha owned and bred, and lie bad raced some very lino horses indeed. During his tnrf carcer liis colours had boon carried to victory by a number of good horses, and during that career ho (Mr. Hunter) did not fear contradiction when ho said that nover to Sir Wm. liuß- - knowledge had his colours been carried by n non-trier. From his earliest connection with the sport, ho endeavoured to raise the tone of that sport, and tho condition of racing in tlie colony at tho present day was largely owing to tho influence brought to boar by Sir Wm. Russell as tho first president of tho New Zealand Racing Conference. Ho was known to everybody in Hawke's Hay as a good husband, a kind father, and an oxcellent citizen. His demise would bo received with tho greatest possible grief, and his memory would long remain green in tho minds of those persons who had tho privilego of knowing him personally from tho very oarly days in Hawke's Bay. In conclusion, Mr. Huntor hoped that . the appreciation which had been shown in the Houso, and the sympathy there extended, would go a long way in tho direction of mitigating tho grief that Lady Russoll and her family must feci in this their irreparable loss.

A Hawke's Bay Pioneer. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) said he had tho privilege of knowing the Into Sir William Russell, a pioneer of the Hawke's Bay district, and a man who had come through tho trials of pioneer life. As a politician, ho had been one of tho most respected tho country had over known; in fact, he had been tho most honourablo man in and out of politics ono could wish to meet. _ Ho (Mr. Brown) felt that in Sir William Russell Parliament and tho country woro losing a great statesman, and tho loss was one that would bo very deepjy felt. Ho did not know a man in Hawke's Bay who knew . Sir William Russell who would not mourn his death. Mr. H. M. Campbell said ho did not think Sir William Russell had a singlo enemy in tho whole of Hawke's Bay, and ho was sure that ho could speak for. the people of Hawke's Bay when ho said that his loss would bo very truly felt by every porson there who knew him. " f On tho motion of the Prime Minister, tho House agreed to adjourn until 2.30 p.m. to-day, as a mark of respect to tho late Sir William Russell. The House roso at 2.57 p.m. Messago From Sir Joseph Ward. Tho following telegram was received vesterday by Mr. G. AY. Russell from Sir Joseph Ward, who' was then in Christchurch: "Kindly express my deep regret at the death of Sir William Russell. Ho was one of the most chivalrous men who added dignity to the public life of the Dominion, and gave a high tone to its public life. Men of all shades of politics will rogrot tho loss of a. gentloman who w.orked so long and faithfully to promote tho welfare of the Dominion. I join with my brother members in tendering sympathy to Lady Russell and her family.