THE LATE PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1783, 14 June 1906, Page 2

THE LATE PREMIER.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, yesterday. It is understood that the interment of tho body of tho Premier will tako place at Wellington on Monday orTuosday of next week at tho oarliost.

Wanganui, last night. On the Native Land Court assembling this morning several prominent natives requested Judge Jones to adjourn the proceedings out of respect to the memory of tho deceased Premior. The natives feelingly referred to Mr Beddon as their father and parent, saying their grief was great, and they had suffered irreparable loss. It was not only a national loss, but the wholo wo.ld had lost a shining star.

His Honor, in adjourning the Court, said ho appreciated the desire of the natives to honor the dead. No man had doco more than the deceased statesman to blend the two raoes and save tho Maoris from extinction.

Auckland, last night. The Auokland branoh of the Liberal and Labor Federation passed a resolution placing on record the deep sense of the irreparable loss to tho oolony in the death of the Premier, and sympathy with Mrs Beddon and family.

ONE OF THE EMPIRE’S NOBLEST CITIZENS.

By telegraph Presa 'As»’n t Copyright Received 11.5 p.m., June 13. London, June 13. Mr Chamberlain, ia a letter to Mr Reoves, writes: — 11 The Empire has lost one of its noblest oit'zsns and the colony a great administrator.”

Capetown, June 13. The Cape Times states : 11 Mr Saddon’s Imperialism was sometimes somewhat aggressive in manner, but when others were vilifying the country as if it, were a den of thieves, his honesty was a wholesome oorreotive."

NEW ZEALANDERS MEET IN SYDNEY. ( U.l f By telegraph. Press Asa’n. Copyrigbi Received 9 38 p.m., June 13.

Sydney, Juno 13. New Zealand residents in Sydney held a meeting, Mr Jackson presiding, and the following resolution for submission to the Acting-Premier and Mrs Ssddon was carried : “ We, New Zsalanders in Sydney, desire to p'aoe on permanent reoord our sense of the deep personal loss by the death of Mr Seddon ; our profound sorrew for and sympathy with Mrs Seddon and members of the family in their mexpreeeibly sad bereavement ; our desire to unite with the rulers and people of New Zealand iu mourning for the great hearted Premier to whom the love of home, country, and Empire was a oonsuming passion ; our thankfulness for the opportunity at reoently vouchsafed to us of affectionate intercourse with our Ist friend, his dear wife, aud those member* of his family who aooompanud him on hi triumphal visit to our adopted country.” The resolution will be engroseed and sigaed by New Zealanders before being sent to Mrs Seddon.

The meeting also resolved to request Mr Kennedy, of the Union Comp my, to represent them at the funeral, and to place a wreath on the coffin with the inscription, 11 With loving sympathy from New Zealanders in Sydney.”

A VICTORIAN MEMORIAL.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association-Copyright. Received 1.10 a.m., June 14. Melbourne, June 13. The Herald has started a fund for the purpose of erecting a Victorian memorial to Mr Seddon.

A NOTABLE GATHERING.

By Electric Telegraph—Pet Press [Association—Copyright. Received 9.35 p.m., June 13, London, June 13.

Sr Charles Dilks, presiding at a gathering representing nearly all seotions of the House of Commons, moving a vote of oondolence, eulogised Mr Seddon’s services to the democracy, whose constancy Mr Beddon had wod, kept, and deserved by oourage, strength, and sense. Mr Oathcart Wason seoonded the motion.

Mr Gilbert Parker, Mr Ramsay Macdonald, and Mr Burt supported the motion, Sir Joseph Ward acknowledging it on behalf of the bereaved family and the Government and people of New Zealand.

MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.

FROM PRINCE OF WALES AND OTHERS.

(Per Press AssocLalion.) Wellington, last night.

Telegrams of sympathy in ounoeotinn with the death of the Premier continue to arrive from a’l quarters. Among the latest are the following reoeived by the Governor

From His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales: 11 Hca-tily join with New Zealand in deeply lamenting the loss sustained by the death of Mr Soddon, who has done so muoh for the country and the Empire.— (S goed) Geo. P." From the F.rat Lord of the Admira’ty: “Am deeply grieved to bear oi Mr Seddon’a death, and offer my s’nosrest condolenc v Would it be agreeable that one of H.M. ships f liquid oonvey the body from Australia to New Zealand ?—(Signed) First Lord of the Admiralty." j ! From the Earl of Belborne, High Commissioner of South Africa : “ My Governments of Orange River Colony and TranEvaal wish to unite with me in tho expression of deep regret at the death cf Mr Seddon, and sympathy with the people of Now Zealand. I am sate that the other Governments of South Africa, with whom I have not yet had t : me to communicate, I will wish to join with mo also in express- I iog our reise of the great loss the Empire I has sustained.—(Signed) Selbomei”

PROPOSED DAY OF MOURNING. (Per Presa Association.) Taames, last night. At a special meeting of the Thames I Borough Council, attended by the Mayor, all Councillors, and the ex-Mayor, euloI gistio speeches were made regarding the splendid services rendered to the colony by Mr Seddon. Resolutions were passed appreciating the great efforts put forward by the late Premier in promoting the I colony’s welfare while in that position, and introduoiog and passing the most humane legislation for the uplifting of humaoity that has fallen to the lot of any statesman of the Brit’sh Empire. The Connoil extended to Mrs Seddon heartfelt sympathy. I The Council considered that a memorial should be rreoted, and expressed a wish to jo : n in any such movement. It will I vote up to the limit allowed by law for I such purposes. It was asked that the day I of the funeral be observed as a day of I general mourning, premises to bp olosed.

WORKERS’ SORROW. (Per Press Association.) Nelson, last night. The Nelson Laborers’Union passed a resolution to night, exprrsung deep sorrow at the death of the Right Hon. Mr Srddon, reeirding appreciation of bis servloes to workers and the colony, declaring that the workers have lost one who cared fot them as a father, BDd who watched their interests with a keen eye, also expressing the deepest sympathy for Mrs Beddon and! family,

MESSAGES FROM FROM FAR AND NEAR.

NATIONAL MOURNING.

(Far Press As»oelatloii.) Wellington, last night. The Aoting-Premier forwards copies of the following telegrams, wbiob, among others, have been sent direot to Mrs Seddon: — 11 My deepest sympathy with you. John Wood, Mayor of WigaD, Lancashire. " Out sympathy.” —J. P. Luke, Penzance. __ „ " Profound sympathy from St. Helens. —Martin, Mayor of St. Helene, Lanoaehire. , 11 Deepest sympathy from North of England Association, "—Kimberley, South Africa. , , . 11 Foe Borough Council aaa people o* Kimberley offer sincere sympathy yourself and family on deoease of your husband, whose death I regard as national loss.’’ —Mayor of Kimberley. “ Deepest sympathy self and family to New Zealand people.”—Colonel and Mrs Dairymple, Johannesburg. ’" Navy League deeply sympathise deplore great Imperial loss iu its N-Z. President.”—London.

" On behalf of the House of Assembly I beg to tender you and your family sincere sympathy on tho loss of the Right Hon. Richard Seddon.”—Jenkin Ooies, Speaker, Adelaide. " Deepest sympathy.”—Constance Gasket), Dungannon, Iceland (the Lady Constance Knox). 11 Most deeply grieved ; heartfelt sympathy.” Lady Ranfurly, Dungannon, Ireland.

11 Deeply regret irreparable loss to your, self and N Z."—Chamberlain, Birmingham.

“ Sincerost sympathy,”—Dudley Alex ander, Dungannon, Ireland. " Deeply sympathise with you and yours and Empire’s loss.” Visoounl Kelburn, London. "Deepest sympathy for the Imperia loss; reoeived his kind letter Monday.”—

Earl Meath, Godaiming. " I beg to inform you that the House of Representatives at its meeting this day passed the following resolution,' That this House pieces on record its profound rrgtei at the untimely decease of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and expresses its deep sympathy with his family and the people of New Zealand The House adjourned out of respeot to Mr Seddon’s memory. May I be permi ted also to tender my sincerest sympathy with yourself and family.” ’ —F. W. Holder, Speaker Federal Parliament House, Melbourne.

11 Lady Siralhoona and I deeply regre: your bereavement, and you and the mem' bers of your family have our heartfel sympathy in your great sorrow."—Strath oona, London.

"Allow me to offer you the sincere expressions of my oondolence in the bereavement which ha 3 so suddooly fallen bn you. Your sorrow will be shared by millions of men all over the British Empire.” Wilfrid Laurier, Ottawa, Canada. " Toe eit'zens of Brisbane are in heartfelt sympathy with you and family in. your great tffl otion.”—John Orase, Mayor. - " The Princess of Wales and I aro deeply grieved at your irreparable loes. We shall never forget your dear husband’s kindness to us in New Zealand.”— George P., London. " Aeoept sympathy.”—Douglas MoLean (of Hastings), London. " My deepest sympathy Is with you and New Zealand in this sudden and great bereavement. Mr Seddon loved and labored for and now he haß died in the servioe of his beloved land. From the time we first met be was my unfailing friend. God be with New Zealand,”— (General) William Booth, London, "Deeply regret to hear death of my very dear friend. Accept our deep eympathy.”—(Earl) Carringtin, London. Mr Justice Williams, of New Zealand, has also cabled expressing deepest sympathy,

A MAKER OF IMPERIAL HISTORY

PROPOSED AUSTRALASIAN MEMORIAL.

Bj Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association,—Copyright. Received 1.5 a,m., June 14. Sydney, Jane 13. The Daily Telegraph, in a leader entitled " An Australasian Obligation,” states : 11 The practical question arises as to what the country owes to the dead statesman’s memory, and how that debt is to be discharged. Mr Seddon did not belong to the ordinary type of colonial politician, 'He was a man of the Empire, a maker of Imperial history. IE the value of the work he did in this capacity was to be measured by a common monetary standard, at the boar of his death be would have be*Q one of the Hottest men in Australasia. Daring his thirteen years of offios he reoeived a salary that a private mercantile oonoern of moderate size would pay to one of the heads of its various departments. Viewed in the light of payment for services rendered, what he drew from the Treasury was therefore ridioulnusly inadequate. We may take it for granted that New Zealand will rise to fn'l appreciation of its obliga tions in this regard. It is not, therefore, with the view of making a suggestion to the sister ooloDy that this article is written. There are others who feel under obligation to the work of the dead statesman. We Australians, however, have a special concern in that work, and it would not be out of the way if those citizens of the Commonwealth who wish to take part in paying the tribute to Mr Seddon’e memory which justice demands were given a praolical opportunity of doing so. Why should there not be an Australasian recognition of the obligation arising from tbe untimely death of one who was gener ally recognised as an Australasian states mm ?”

WESTLAND'S GRIEF. (Per Press Assopiatiop.) Hokitika, last night. A very solemn scene was enacted today in the Westlani County Chambers, when the CoudoU met for ihe ordinary meeting. The chambers were draped in black, and a largi photo of the late Premier was covered with mourning. Mr Seddon was a former member of the Council, and the building was the scene of many of his ea-ly political fight < for roads and bridges to open up tho back oountry of his beloved Westland. Oo the motion of the County ohairman the following resolution was adopted, the | members rising in their plsoos to give absent to the proposition, " Th>t on behalf

of the people of Westland the Ooudo ; 1 presses its profound feelings of regret at the sadden and untimely death of the Right Hon. B. J. SeddoD, Privy Goancillor, distinguished Premier of theoolony, an honored member cf this oonstitnenoy, and warm hearted colleague of bygone days; that the Council places on reoord its very high sense of appreciation cf the magn’ficent servioes so unselfishly rendered to Eing and country during a oolonial career of unparalleled brilliancy, and farther that the Oouncil tenders its most sinoore and heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved ones, and offers to Mrs Heddon, the devoted and cherished wife, and the beloved : family, the deepest respeot of iotima'.e .friendship endeared by a life of pleasant personal intercourse. We trust that the Almighty in his mercy will give the strength and that peaoe of mind which wi'l aid.and sustain them in so great a domiatic till o'.ion," Cr James'A. Byrne, who was as ; ooiated with Mr S?ddon on' the Arahura Road Board, the first public bodythe Premier was eiecied to in the colony, seoonded the motion in a very feeling reference to the | loig s acd ng f i ndship. Too Oounoil resolved to ask MrJ. H. I Elliot, la’e Under-Fe ;retary of the Mints Dtpirtment, Wellington, lo represent the oouny on the ar.ival .cf. the O.westry Grange rn S.turday, and twasfuriledecided if the steamer faeilit'es permi that the whole Conned attend the fu» y , at Wellington next week, and that ■* r 6 i spi cfeml reoua t be tnade for a delegation frota tbe Oouooil to act as pall-bearers,

It was decided that all Oounoil work bs suspended in the eounty on the day appointed for the funeral, and the ordinary business of the Oounoil was adjourned UDtil after the obsequies at Hokitika. The High Sohool Board, which also met to day, passed a motion of oondolenaOi aud adjourned as a mark of respeot.

At the meeting of the Ereoutive of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union yesterday morning, Mr W. Lissaut Clayton moved that the meeting be adjourned out o( respeot to tho memory of the late Premier. They oonld not adjourn for any length of time owing to the difficulty their country members bad in getting into town. Ha moved that the following wire be sent to the Aoting Premier ; “ The members of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union desire to exprets their deep regret at the colony’s loss of Australasia’s greatest statesman, and wish to convey their heartfelt synlV pathy with the bereaved family." There was not a man amoDgst them, no matter what were bis opinions of the late Premier’s polities or of the man, but had admired his wonderful brain. His faoulty for organisation was wonderful, which made him a great leader. Those in opposition bad always felt the lack of suoh a leader His was the greatest mind that tho oolonies had seen for maoy years. The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The following reply was reoeived last evening: 11 On behalf of Mrs Seddon, her family, Government, and myself, I thank you for the kindly message of sympathy in great and irreparable loss we have all sustained in the death of our loved and honored Premier. His life was a devotion to duty aud the uplifting of humanity, while his tender sympathies and wide consideration endeared him to all. No aot of goodness was too small for him to render, no effort too great for his undertaking. His great work for this oolony and the Empire will ever cause his name to be revered.—Wm, Hall-Jones.”