INTENSE SORROW IN GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1781, 12 June 1906, Page 3

INTENSE SORROW IN GISBORNE.

SHOOK CAUSED BY SAD NEWS,

MARKED RESPECT FOR A GREAT STATESMAN.

Vory great sorrow was manifested in Gisborne cn tho cablegram boing received by tho Timks announcing the death of tho Bight Hen. B J. Soddon, Premier of Now Zoalend. The suddenness of the sad nows oamo ai a very great shock to tho community, nod made it all tho more dithault to realise. Immediately the information beoarno generally known the flogs throughont tho town wore flown at half-mast, tho business premises anl hotels were closed, and tho several meetings called for tho afternoon and evoniDg were adjourned The Victoria fireboll was also tolled, and sinoero expressions of regret could bo hoard on every side,

HARBOR BOARD MEETING ADJOURNED.

When the Harbor Board met at two | o'olook, the following members were present : His Worship tho Mayor (in tho chair), Messrs Biovwright, Whinray, Hepburn, Lysnar, Matthewson, and Captain Tucker. "We meet in sadness,” remarked the Mayor, " and there can be no meeting today. The oolony has sustained ono of the greatest loss's that it oould sustain, aDd wo are a’l more or lees ooncorned. It is

difficult to express in words what the lose to ibis ocbny and the Empire will be. All that we oan do to-day is to express cur deep sorrow and sympathy with the bereaved wife and family and then adjourn. Mr Beddon was one of the host

statesmen we have had, and. right through tho oolony everyone wi-1 bedepply affected by his sudden dca’h We knew him as a friend to every mso, and be was particularly a friend lo this district. On behalf ot the Board I desire to express to the Premier’s family our drop regret and sorrow.”

Mr Matthewson endorsed tbe remarks of tbe Chairman in regard to tbe great loss tbe oountry bad sustained. He had been privileged to hear Mr Seddoo’s first speech iu the House, and that same evening hear tbe late Sir Geoigo Giey, in re ferring to tho member for Westland, said : “ Take my word, bat he is going to be one of tbe leading statesmen in the oolony." That was his (Mr Matthewson’s) first iotrodnetion to Mr SaddoD, and tbeykaew fall well now how Sir George Grey’s predictionhad been fulfilled. No ma'ter what may be their political views, they oould net bolp admiring tbe late Mr SeddoD, for he bad done more for th 9 oolony than any other statesman. He bad fought for the rights of the people, and bis death was in etetj-zenso a great national loss. There was not a stauncher Imperialist than Mr Seddon, and his p’aoe would bo hard to fil.

Mr Whinray said that it was impossible to express tbe loss not only to the colony but the world at latgj. Ho had little hesitation in saying that by tbe trend of his legislation and-his endeavors for tbe amelioration and uplifting o! his fellows Mr Seddon had done more for the advancement of the world than any other man they had read about. He (Mr Whinray) heartily sympathised with the Premier's family in tbeir sad bereavemont. The Board then adjourned until Friday afternoon,

LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Immediately on the news beiog reoeived an urgent meeting of tho L’beral Association was oonvened, Mr W. L. Rccb presiding. Even at the short notice there wbb a large attendance, and tbe intense sorrow of all present was briefly expressed. On the motion of Mr Matthewson it was resolved to despatch the following msssage to the Aoting-Premier, Hon. Hall Jones :

"The Lbiral Association of Poverty Bay desire to convey its deep sympathy with the Government and people of New Z.a'andin the sudden death and loss of the Premier and leader cl the people of New Zealand. They desire also that you will on tbe first proper occasion, oonvey the assurance of their very deep sympathy to Mrs Saddoo and family in their irreparable loss.—W. L. REE 3, President.”

PUBLIC GATHERING AT FIREBELL

There was a large and representative gathering of townspeople at the Viotoria Beifry at 4 o’clock, and there were general expressions of regret from all present in regard to the sad news received that morning. The City Bind, under Bandmaster Don, played ssveral selections, fooled ng ‘'The Dead March” and ‘■NaarerMy God to Thee," which were

rendered in a moat impressive manner, Mr W L. Bees addressed the gathering as follows: “People of Gisborne—We are met here to-day upon an ccoasion which must appeal to us all, for wha ever our thoughts or politioal feelings may be, we must have deep sympathy for those who have been robbed of their head. We must have deep sympathy foe New Zealand, who has lost its leader, and we must have reepeot and affeotion for the memory of him who has been eo suddenly called henoe by the fiat cf Almighty Qod. Wr, who have dwelt in this land for many years and watobed tte public career cf the Right Honorable R J. Seddon, know how great that loss is whon in a moment a man of g'eai power and deep aEfeo.un, and one in regard to wh m even Lis worst opponents oan say notbirg that is evil, is ttkm away. Wo koow we have lo t a groat friend and true adviser, an tooorable lcador, and a man who to his pcoplo and Empire and kind was evir tru-, The least that we oan do is to pay rrspeot to his memory. No oro hero dreamt that in a moment be would be cut off, full of vigor and strength, botbr-in mind and body, returning from a triumphant oiraer in 'Australia. ’’ Continuing, Mr Roes paid an 'eloquent tribute to the groat woik done by Mr Soddon in Australia in briDg'ng tho

colonies into c'oier uoioa. However tbo late Premier might be attaoked, thi3 would always bo allowed him, that ho lived to promote the happiness of the people, and that he was glad to live for the glory of the Empire of which he- was a dietin' guished son. They could remepber with gladness that like Neliion at Tra'a'gar and Wolfe at Abraharu’d Heights Me Seddon had been oalled hence at the moment of victory. He died after a great struggle and a great achievement, havtDg achieved a union between Australia and New }ahd which would lead the Empire to greater heights of glory and happiness than it had yet achioved. They would one and all honor the late Premier’s momory, aod deeply sympathise with his wife and children and ihe peop’e of New Zealand in the death of Riobard John Seddon Mr ] Rees conoludei his remarks by calling npon the Rev. Father Lane, and slated that whatever tho la'o Premier’s fecliDg3 were he always sought to do that whiob was just and right, i:respective of race, religion, or class. The Rov. Father .Lana said, " I have only to reiterate the statements of tho friend who has preceded mo in regard 1 1 the lamoDted death of New Zealand's great leader, Riohard John S-ddoD. We nave always recognised him as a great leader, a great statesmen, and a philan thropiat of the first water. We may well ssy of him that he loved his oouptry, and served his kind, and we, the people ci Poverty Bay, have reason to Bympa’.hiso with our fellow colonists throughout what Richard Seddon has aptly deaigealed God’s own country, in the great loss we have sustained to-day. On behalf of the community which I have the honor to re* present, I wish to express to you the

oUizans of Gisborne and Poverty Bay the deep sympathy wo fool for Mrs Seddon and family and ont follow oolonißts throughout Now Zealand, and let us fervenlly hope that God will reward him for tho energy whioh ho has thrown into his work. A wavo of prosperity has boon floating throughout Now Zealand during tho last eight yoare, and it is to bo attributed to a vory groat extont to tho man who;o death wo mourn and doploro this evening." His Worship tho Mayor joined in tho oppression of sorrow. They oould not, he said, at present gaugo tho loss lint tho oolony had sustained by tho death of tho greatest Premier of any of tho oolonios. Ho had suoooisfully lod in many a struggle, and his doath was a groat blow to all his feionds, and also lo all who had opposod him, for thoy, too, would fool tho doepest regrot. Ho had led in llio wo>k of many groat ohangos that had been viowod with intorest throughout tho world, and which would bo known by thole fruits Ho had exbaustod himsolf in tho interests of tho colony, and had achieved great suoooss. Throughout ho had shown a most patriotio spirit, and wbilo other Premiers had hosilatod ho had taken tho load in striking out for that whioh ho boliovod to bo right. Gisborne had lost a groat friond in tho Premier, without whoso aid they would novor havo had tho railway taken np. Ho was ploasod to boo suoh a great gathering to manifest their grief at tho Premier's death. That statesman bad boon out oil just when most required. Ho was hurryiDg baok to New Zealand for tho ro oponiDg of Parliament Tho grief they felt would bo goDoral throughout the oolony, and tho deopcil sympathy would bo foil for Mrs Seddon and family. Ths Mayor apologieol on behalf of Mr W. Lissant Clayton, who, equally with tb« speakeis, felt grieved, and would have liked to have spoken, but was unable to do so, owing to an affection of the throat GISBORNE’S MESSAGE

I Mr W. L, Robb moved, " That the people of Gisborno deeply regret the sudI dm decease of the F.i. Hon. R J. Boddon, I Premier of the oolony, and deeply sympathise with tho widow and ohildreri, and trust that his example ia life may be followed by other statesmen in New Zealand and thooolonits in working and toiling and Buffeting for the gaod of the I people." The motion was seconded by Mr Harding, and oarried unanimously. Early in the afternoon Mr W. Lissant Clayton, as representing the Opposition party, sent the following telfgrßma to the Acting Premier (Mr Hail-Jones) and the Natiie Minister (Hon. Jas. Carroll) : [ To Ibe AoSing Premier : " Aco=pt my condolences on tho colony's great loss.” To Mr Carroll : " Acoept my oondolencrs cn the lose of your ch'ef—one of Eoglaud’s greatest sons." Last evening the following reply was received from' Mr Carroll: " I appreciate your very kind message, a just tribute to one who wae a man amongst men.” Mr W. Hall-Jones, replied : " I have to thank you for your kiad meseage of sym pathy and condolenoe in the irreparable lose wo have sustained in the death of our loved and honored Premier. His life was a devotion to daty and the uplif ing of humanity."

GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO BE CLOSED.

Tho Chief Postma3ter has reoeived the following telegram in regard to tho closing of all Government cffioes : “ All Government offices will be olosed to day (Tuesday), and cn'y urgent business will bo traosacted until the day of the late Premier’s funeral whan all Government offices will again be closed. This will not apply to tho Post and Telegraph Offioes.” Mr W. A. Barton, S.M, received a similar message, notifyiog that the Court would be olosed to-day (Tuesday), and only urgent business would be transacted op to the day of the funeral, when the Court will egain be closed.

THE MAYOR’S TELEGRAM,

Last night His Worship tho Mayor sent the following telegram to the Acting Premier : Deeply regret sudden death of Mr SeddcD, great loss to oolony and Empire, Please convey o ndpienc:s of te'f and district to Mrs Seidon and family.-J. TOWNLEY.”

MASONIO FBATERNIIY.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Turanganui Masonio Lodge, No. 1480, E.O, last night, all the business was postponed out of respect to the memory of late Bro. Right Hon. R. J. Saddon, and a vote of coDdolenoo and sympathy was passed to tho widow and family of the bereaved. A wrta’hfrom Worshipful Master, offioers, and brethren of the, Lodge will also bo eent.