The late W. E. Chamberlain

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 98, 3 February 1885, Page 2

The late W. E. Chamberlain

On Saturday evening last died William Edinburgh Chamberlain, aged 52, of Feilding. The illnesß which terminated in his dissolution was of many months standing. Change of climate was advised, and Mr Chamberlain visited the Australian colonies, but the result was not so beneficial as was hoped for. On his return it -was apparent that the excitement of travel and visiting old familiar scenes had done some good, but it was only of an . evanescent nature, for after ; a very short time he was again confined to i the house. Prom the beginning he was conscious that th« complaint which ' had fastened on him would terminate fatally, therefore all necessary prepar--1 ations to leave his worldly affairs in ' order for his sons to take Mb place L when the time for his' departure came, were made upwards of two years ago. » He bore his sufferings with the most 1 unflinching courage to the end. As a 5 man of business he was unequalled, while the strict probity of his ioharac- '' ter earned him the esteem of everyone " who had the pleasure of coming in ! contact with him. He was for a few months Mayor of the Borough of ' Feilding, and proved a most worthy * occupant of the Mayoral chair, but before he could extend his sphere of usefulness to his fellow burgesses, ill r ' health compelled him to 6ever his con- ' nection with public maiters by resign- \ ing his position. He arrived in Wellington with his parents from, the Oil j Country amongst the first settlers, and I many of his relatives and connections i are settled in Palmerston, Wellington, . the Wairarapa, and other parts of the 1 colony. The funeral took -place yes- : terday and was largely attendedl The whole of the places of business were ; closed in token of respect to the de- ' ceased and his family. The cortege 1 left the residence oif the family 'at 3 1 p.m., and was one' of the largest | funerals ever held in Feilding. The procession was very long, numbering 17 vehicles, 40 horsemen, and a nuin- ' ber of persons on foot. The Mayor \ and Borough Councillors, and most of i our leading citizens, together with a » number of friends from palmerston I and other townships, also' attended. Mr J. linton, Mayor of Palmerston; > was also present. All places of busi- • ness were closed during the afternoon, 1 and business was entirely suspended. 1 A very impressive oration was delivered ' at the grave by Mx T. E. uWalton, ! which was listened to, with' marked I attention. The proceedings closed with the singing of several verses of that plaintive hymn the " Sweet Bye- . and-Bye," So ended the obsequies of ' one 6i Feilding's worthiest settlers. t ;

Mr Stout on the Coal Trade ♦ [PEE UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.! Westpoet, This Pay. The Hons. Stout and Larnach were, entertained at a banquet last night. In replying to the toa.st "The Ministry" Mr Stout in an excellent speech, said his experience as a schoolmaster might enable him to better carry out his duty as Minister of Education. Referring to the laying of the first stone of the harbour ■works, he was then doing something to build up the colony he showed how the coal trade effected many industries of the colony. As the civilisation of the world depended upon coal, they had to look to Greymouth and "VVestport to give such impetus to trade to make New Zealand a great nation. Alluding to the Hinemoa "mystery," he said that to the Pacific Islands New Zealand was to be the centre of civilisation being in the centre of the Southren Hemisphere, that was the object they had in view when they brought it before the House. The Government proposals in reference to Samoa and the extension of civilisation amongst .the inhabitants, no honest efforts in that direction in the future would be spared. His visit to this part of the coast was to gain information, and to enable them to submit next sessiou a more complete scheme of reduction in Governmeet expenditure than an any Ministry ever brought forward after such a short term of office. It was impossible to carry on the system of local government now in vogue. . .