LOCAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1790, 22 June 1906, Page 3

LOCAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

- AN IMPRESSIVE GATHERING. Gisborne was in no aanso bobind the real of the colony in showing sympathy and respect to the memory of the late Premier. All business places, including the 'hotels, closed shortly after noon, and "be absorbing topic of conversation PODgst townspeople during the afternoon was the great loss the colony had sustained in regard to the death of its Prime Minister. The flags in town ware at half-mast. The entraDoe of the Post Offioe was draped in blaok, whilst a fine pioure of the late Premier was displayed on the Customhouse street side. The photograph was

enoirolod by a bountiful wreath, and waa most effective. There waa a largo and representative attendance at the memorial sorvioo hold in tho Beoroation Ground in the aftornoon. The pavilion had been appropriately draped, and above tho entranoo waa an excellent photograph of tho doooaaod statesman encircled in a wroath of white flowers and evergreens. A very pretty wroath from tho Liberals of Gisborne was displayed from the pavilion stops, tho emblem bearing tho inscription, “In !oviDg memory of our groat loader." At two o’clock there was a monster procession. The procession started from the Post Office, hoadod by tho school children, followed by tho Oily Band under Bandmastor Don. Then came tho Veterans, who, noodloss to say, a'.traoted considerable attention. At eaoh public function tho number of old-limo warriors lessons, and yostorday there were only seven roproson'atives, viz., Captain Ferris, N.Z A. 0.; Ward, lith Division, A. 0.; J. Brooking. Colonel Defence Foroe; Vinoent Pyko, N.Z.A.0.; J. Maynard and T. U’Ren, N.Z, Militia, Bnd 0. J. Morell, Imperial Regiment. Captain Warren, late of the Gisborne Rifles, also fell in with tho veterans. Next in order to tho procession were the members of the East Coast Mounted Rifles, Gisborne Rifles and Cadets, and several visiting voluntoer officers. Tho remaining portion of tho prooossion inoluded members of tho Civil service, looal bodies, friendly societies, natives, fire brigadp, aud the general publio. His Worship tho Mayor and Liout.-Colonel Winter wore marshals of tho prooossion. On tho way to tho Reoreation Ground tho C.ty Band played the " Dead Marob.” Arriving at the giound j there was already assembled a very large j gathering, and it was estimated that at I the commencement of tho sorvioe there wore quite 2500 persons present. On the band pavilion were assembled tho heads of tho several churches and the representatives of the various looal bodies and lodges. As tho procession drew up on the Recreation Ground it was met by the Maoris, who, with a number of mournful chants, led the way to the rotunda. The proceedings opened with the hymn, 11 Oh God our help in Ages Past,” whioh was (o'lowed by the open'ng portioo of the Church of England servioe in Maori, oon ducted by the Rov. H. Williams. A short bvmn was a so given by the natives, Mr acting as soloist. The Mayor was tho first speaker. He paid an eloquent tostimony to the departed statesman, whoso health, ho said, had been broken down through the ex o-asive wo k which was foroed npon him. Tho prophet e message which Mr Seddon had sent to Mr Bent bad proved only too true, far ho had gone to "God’s Own Country.” Mr Srddon had dure much, not ooiy to advaneo the progress of the ooiony, but also of the Empire, and the work ho bad done would live for many generations. The Mayor oonoluded by reading the following apology whioh he bad reoeived from the Rev Father Lane : “ Au important appointment in the oountry necessitates my absence from town at the hoar arranged for the memorial servioe in honor of tbs R'gbt Hon. R. J. Seddon. I very much regret my inability to be present at the ceremony, as I would desire to give expression thereat to my own appreciation, and that of the oommunity I represent, of the eminent services rendered to New Zealand by our late illustrious and beloved Premier. By his death we are deprived of a distinguished states man, as well as of a gentleman whose private life was in every sense irreproachable. I would respectfully ask you, Mr Towoley, to express to tbe assemblage, on my own and the Catholio community’s behalf, tho deep sorrow we feel with them on the death of a statesman whom all Britain maurn3.” The Rev. Dawson Thomas, as representing tbe Cburoh of England, was the second speaker. He said that in all Maoriland that dry there was only one heart, and that a sad one. They had lost their great white chieftain, one who bad done mnch for the colony, and their grief was genuine. The church to whioh he, the speaker, belonged did not dabble in politics, but it was ever ready to pay respect to the memory of great men. It f.ntvLcl iculj U ta had given him ten talents, and he had used them to the very best ability. Tbe late Premier bad dune his duty to the ohildren, to the laboring clasees, and to all sorts and conditions of men. Remembering all that be had done, they could thank God for the life and work of Richard John Seddon. The Rev. J. G. Paterson said that all over New Zealand, from the noith, south, east, and west, in every town, village, and hamlet there were general manifestations ofj'grief that day in regard to the death of their beloved Premier. He had koown the Premier for 35 years, and never had he witnessed suoh general mourning, the sympathy shown being even more intense than was shown on the death of Queen Victoria. They would one and all miss Mr SeddoD, but none more so than the old people to whom he had given pensions. Mr Seddon loved New Zealand, and had termed it " God’s own oountry,” and it was always that to hitq. There was much tp learn from the death of Mr Seddon, but nothing so important as the Divine message, 11 Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye thiok not the Son of Man cometh.” Mr W. L. Rees, as usual, made an excellent speech. He represented no oanroh, but ho spoke on behalf of the people of New Zta'and. He had known Mr S ddon for uiaDy yea's, was a personal friend of the Premier, and he could say (b'»t he worked ceaselessly for the welfare of the colony arjH the advancement of tbe Empire. NewZsdand had been fortune e in ba-ing great men to assist her progress, iuc'uding Captain Cook, Rev. Maraden, Bir G orge Grey Bishop B-dwyn, John Ballanoe. and their iate Premier, and he was sure that o hers would arise and oarry oa the work of the ooiony with equal success. Instead of being sorrowful, they should rather be glad that their Premier had died in the hour of his triumphs, in the hoar of his achievements, tbat he hadi done bis duty, and gone tu his rest. They should eaoh one endeavor to tread in the footsteps of the Premier, they should be just, generous, true, and faithful, th’y ebould be obedient to the laws of their country, and do their best in the day and generation in which they lived, so that when they passed away they would be remembered with affection and their memories would never die. ” Nearer my God to Thee ” was then sung by the gathering. The Rsv. Mr Griffin endorsed the remarks of previous speakers in regard to their lata Premier. q?be hjfflu they had just sung was a favorite hymn of Mr fchddon's, and it showrd the character of the man. They would remember the old saying, ” Lit me make tbe songs of. a country, and I do not cue who makes its laws.” 4 ib aa who ioved a byifta as that just sung must perforce be a good msn. He was sure they would one and all join in payieg respect to tho memory of their late Premier. Tho Rev. D- Parry expressed the appreciation he felt in being allowed to add his voice with others in expressing regret in regard to the death of the Premier. The British people had bad ocoasiou in past years to mourn the lose of great men, of groat heroes and statesmen, but he ques-1 tioned if ever tbe he9rt of the British I nation was so deeply touched as it was tbat day over the death of one of the greatest of statesmen. Mr Seddon waa a i great Imperialist, and his triumphs were the triumphs of peaoe. He had worked for tho welfare of his oountry, for whioh he bad given his life. Colonel Potter, as representing the Mssocia fraternity, made an excellent speech, in the oourse of whioh he highly eulogised the work of Mr Seddon, who was himself a Past Grand Master of the Masonio lodge. To the inner world of hiß home circle and among Masons, their late Premier was all that good report required —loving, benevolent, loyal, steadfast till death, and was revered and beloved by all, Capt, Slattery, of the Salvation Army! referred to the good work done by the dsc:ased and his labors on behalf of all classes of the cemmunity. He had rendered signal servioe to the ooiony and Empire, and could justly olaim to be one of tbe grpqtest men of the Empire. From the greatest to the least this faot would be recognised. Mr H Kobere spoke of the kindly feelings of the Maoris towards the late Premier aDd the benefioial legislation that Mr Seddon had introduced. Mr J. W Whinray was the last speaker. He was for many years acquainted with

Mr Beddon, and ho regardod his death as a national loss. Ho was sure they ono and all sympathised with the family in their sad boreavoment.

The hymn 11 Onward Christian Soldiers” having bobn sung, the sorvice olosod with tho Bonodiotiou, which was pronounood by tho Rov. Ohatterton.

WHATATUTU.

Tho people of Wbatatiutu and distrioi joiuod in the spirit of tbo day’s proooed iogs. Tbo businoss premisos and hotel wore olosed, and a memorial sorvieo was bold and largely attondod. It was eondnotod by tbo Rev. Mr Walker, of Ormond, and was most improssivo.