OUR MEMBER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1781, 12 June 1906, Page 2

OUR MEMBER.

DEEPLY AFFECTED BY HIS

CHIEF'S DEATH.

POLITICAL SITUATION.

(Per Press Association.) U Auckland, last night. The Hon. Jas. Carroll was greatly shocked and very deeply affected when the oable announcing his chief’s death wts oommunicated to him to-day. For over sixteen years they have been Ministerial oollengues, meeting daily round the Cabinet table in session lime, and as occasion demanded in recces.

THE CABINET.

Asked as lo whether Mr Hall Jones, who has been Acting Premier since the departure of Mr Seddon for Australia, would retain temporary control of the administration of the affairs of the-colony, Mr Carroll stated that the remaining Cabinet Ministers would meet"in Wellington as soon as possible! and would then in conference decide upon the. course of action whioh will be followed out until the return of. Sir. Joseph .Ward, the late Premier's.first lieutenant.

Sir Joseph Ward was at latest advioes received by Me Carroll still.in London, and at his earliest cannot return to New Zealand under about five weeks.

Asked as to what would in connection with the approaohiDg meeting of Parliament fixed for Wednesday'of the week after next, Mr Carroll pointed out that under the. constitution Parliament must meet before June 80th. :J

The Administration, he explained, has power to expend moneys after the olose of the finanoial year, March 31st, but on June 80th that power absolutely oeases. No money, hot even for salaries, can be expended without Parliamentary authority by means of an Imprest Supply Aot, It will thus be necessary for Parliament to meet at or within a couple of days of the appointed date, but in- the opinion of Mr Carroll an immediate adjournment will be made after the passage of tbe Imprest Supply for three or four doyaio enable'the allocation ol portfolios to be made and the business of the House to be prepared. j A GREAT WORKER. ; The Native Minister pointed out that while Mr Seddon was attending the round cf banquets and conferences with' the political powers of Australia, he was at the same time working diligently in prepara* tion for tbe approaohing session. It was his eustom in New Zealand after attend; ing banquets whioh demanded his pretence to go to his borne or bis hotel to reoommeoee steady work, perhaps from I o’olook in the morning till daylight. Then after a few hours’ sleep he was at wo;k again, and 18 hours’ work a day for several days in sqocp3aion was nothing uousual for him. His tremendous energy and vitality euabled him to do what : was impossible to others, and after working night -and day he was still more than a' matoh for the freshest of his opponents. v THE IMMENSE STRAIN.

In this way he must have been working ia Australia, for while he was being baqqueted and made muoh of by the people of all shades of opinion in Australia, he still had his work for the incoming session to accomplish, so it was that after accomplishing a day’s work that would be sufficient for two ordinary men he- would, instead of seeking repose, oemmenoe work on the preparation : of the Governor’#' Speeoh and Finanoial Statement, together with the consideration of the more important Biils which have to come under: the consideration of our Legislature'. The immense strain involved Mr*""' Carroll considers, probebly sap the -immense vitality of Mr Seddon to breaking | pciat. .. I BELOVED WEST COAST.

Mr Carroll thinks it certain that Mr Solion’s rein lias will fiad their last resting p'aes on the West Coart, the district wh’ch bo so long represen el, and whioh loved him so well.

DIED IN HARNESS. : . , Mr Can oil stated to a Star representative, in the course of conversation this 'afternoon, that Mr Seddon had-always said he would die in harness. That pre?_ dipiion has been fully verified, Mr Seddon. dying while in the zenith of his powers and while oooqpyiog tbe highest position in the gift of his people.

PEACEFUL DEATH.

MRS SEDDON’S KIND THOUGHT-.. FULNESS- • ~ HZ telegraph, Pres* "Ass'bj; Copyitf|;ht Jjtrceived fi 5 p.m., June 11. .. , Bydney, June 11. After lunoh Mr Seddon slept for two I houre, Qa awakening he appeared greatlyI refreshed, excepting that onoe or twioe he complained of a pain in tho shoulder, which had troubled bint earlier in the day. I Just before dinner, at twenty past six, he was lying on the couob, fully dressed. He wsb sesn to Biok backwards in a faint ing condition. Mrs Seddon and his private secretary, - Mr Andrews, were the only persons' pre*— sent, and wen, to his assistance, A few seconds afterwards he had breathed his last, apparently" without' suffering. . , -

Strict r6t : c;noe. was observed oh ihe arrival of the vessel, at tho request of Mrs ■ oeddon, who wished first to communicate with her daughter, Mrs Dyer, who had ra« ma ned in Sydney. Everywhere flags were half-masted, and there aro general expressions of sorrow. Mr Carmtber*, Premier of New - South Wales, who had an interview with Mr Seddon on Saturday at noon, was muchshoeked on hearing the news. He not.oed that Mr Seddon appeared tired on Saturday, and asked hun what sort of trip be had.bad through tbe Ejouihern S.ates. Mr

Saddon replied, “ Very good, exoeptmg a Adelaide, where I felt unwell. During this forenoon the m * mbe ” ° f Mrs Seddon’s staff sow Mr Owruthers and expressed Mrs Srddon’a wish that there Bbould bo no publio action taken hero, ~ r n Direotly he heard the news Mr Oarruthors oommunioated with the GovernorGeneral and State Governor, expressing the general feeling of sorrow that pervaded tho whole community. A PUBLIO OALAMITY.

Asked if bs would say anything regarding Mr Soddon’s career, Mr Oarruthers replied, '• The whole thing is such a shock teat one is pretty well unnerved. To mo it seems such an awful thing. Only on Saturday I went to him, shook hands, and said 1 good-bye,' never thinking it was a life farewell. It is too groat a shock to " speak now. The loss of a man like Mr Soddon at any time would bo a public oalamity, but when it occurs under oroumstances like the present, it is a publio shook. Mr Saddon oamo here for a rest, but it was apparent to us all that ho worked very hard, and probably that vory Btronnona life ho has boon living for t o last 16 years brought about his untimely death," , . I The evening papers published early editions with appreciative notioes of tho deceased statesman.

PAINFUL SENSATION.

FEELING IN AUSTRALIA.

FABEWELL WOBDS,

By telegraph. Press Ass’n, Copyright Beoeived 6.6 p.m., June 11. Sydney, Judo 11. Perhaps never before has the death of a public man caused so muoh sensation as the death of Mr Beddou. He was locked upon in the Commonwealth as a man with views far wider than that taken by loosl politicians, Crowds gathered in front of the newspaper cilices to read the intelligence of bis triumphal march through Australia, and | his sudden end set up a contrast whioh vividly sffeoted the publio mind. Practically his last publio utterance was in reply to a press interviewer in which he said that he had not bad any rest, but that ho had benefited by the change, and that the generous hospitality and bindn'ss he bad received would fortify him against I adverse criticism for some tiras to oome. He particularly wished to say that the Australian press had been very considerate to him. In eayiDg good-bye to Australia, he concluded : " The Maori words, ‘ Kia-ora ’ and 1 Arohs,' express my feelings. AusIralia has ever been generous to me from the day that I oame here as a youth ; but 1 God's own country ' should have tho first place. You will quite uuderstaod that at the same time I have a great love for Australia and its people, and fervently hope that the sunshine of prosperity, happiness, and oontentment may ever be with them."

FUBTHEB DETAILS.

TBAGIO AND PATHETIC EXPERIENCE.

By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Beoeived 10.9 p.m, Jane 11. Sydney, June 11. Mr Beddon went down to the saloon half an hour after sailing. He retired to his betth immediately, obviously very tired. Having spent a busy day on Sunday alter his afternoon sleep he appeared refreshed, but a few minutes afterwards he bad a recurrence of the symptoms that had shown themselves in the morhiDg, but iu a more aggravated form. He was treated by Mrß Seddon and Mr Andrews ■eemingly with good effect, for he conversed with them on several public and private matters in whioh they were interested. Then suddenly, just at twentyfive. minutes past six, he gave a short jasp, spoke a few words to Mrs Seddon, ind Collapsed. It was supposed that he had fainted. Dr. Manohin was hurriedly summoned. Arriving in a few moments he saw that Jthe great New Zealander waß dead of failure of the heart. He said there had been no struggle and no pain. Mr Seddon lay there in the oabin, seemingly asleep, as oalmly and peacefully ’x-v as a child. • The blow to Mrs Seddon end to Miss May Saddon and Stuart Seddon, who ao companied their parents, was a terrible one. Tbeir sudden bereavement was given an added poignanoy by it taking plaoe while away from the other members of the family, and out iu mid-ooeßn. * A little over three weeks ago they landed with tbeir father at Sydney, amidst a great popular ovation, of whioh they were pardonably proud. To day they returned on a murky, drizzling day, bearing bis dead body. Their experiences indeed were feragio and pathetio.