MRS R. J. SEDOON IN ST HELENS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1920, Page 2

MRS R. J. SEDOON IN ST HELENS.

JOURNEY OF 12,000 MILES TO SEE SON’S GRAVE. (St. Helens Newspaper). Mrs R. J. Seddon, the widow of the late Mr Richard J. Seddon, Premier of , New Zealand, accompanied by her daughter, Miss Mary Stuart Seddon, paid a visit to St Helens one day in October last, and renewed tlieir acquaintance with some friends and j scenes which will ever remain dear to them. They were met by Alderman and Mrs John Forster, who took them in his motor to the old school house at Eccleston Hill, where the late Mr Seddon was born, and where his father was the schoolmaster, and then to Eccleston Church, in the graveyard of which Mr Seddon’s mother was buried. The old school house was looking extremely nice, and the party could not help recalling the fact that many of the New I Zealand soldiers, who have come to this country, have visited it, as a tribute to the memory of one who did so much for the colony from which they had come. The party then drove to the Town Hail, where they were entertained to lunch by the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs H. L. Bates). The party included Mrs Seddon, Miss Seddon, Alderman and Mrs Forster, and the Town Clerk (Mr W. H. Andrew). Afterwards, Mrs and Miss Seddon, accompanied by the Mayoress, paid a visit to Messrs Beecham’s works in "Westfield street, which they visited on the occasion of tlieir last visit to England. Then they made a call on Mrs Turtill, at the Nelson Hotel, Bridge-street, Mrs Turtill being a New Zealand lady, and later on paid visits to Mrs Morton, sister of the late Mr E. Glover, of Beeeliam’s, and Mr Seddon’s aunt, in Kes-wick-road, where they had afternoon tea, after which they drove to the station, to return to Liverpool.

Before /Mrs and Miss 'Seddon departed, a representative of the “Newspaper and Advertiser” had a short intjlerview with them, during which Mrs Seddon stated that she had been ,in England since the Bth of June last, having come to England, with her daughter, to pay a visit to the grave of her son, Captain Richard John Seddon, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, who fell in the advance on Bapaume, on the 21st of August, 1918. “I have paid two visits to France to see my son’s grave,” said Mrs Seddon, “and I hope to pay another visit before I return to New Zealand, Where I expect to arrive about the New Year.”

“Three of my sons served in the war. My eldest son fell. My second sou. Captain Tom Seddon; served with the New Zealand Forces, and he is now in New Zealand attending to his Parliamentary duties, having taken his father’s seat which has thus been in the family for forty years. My youngest son, Stuart, came to England, and enlisted in the 'Royal Field Artillery and he has just been demobilised.” While the “Newspaper and Advertiser” representative was chatting with Mrs Seddon, Alderman J. Crooks came to the platform, and the Mayoress at once introduced him, informing Mrs Seddon that he resided only a short distance from the old schoqlhouse at Ec'dbston. Mrs Seddon expressed her pleasure at meeting him, and Alderman Crooks said, “I well remember your husband making his last visit to St St Helens when he told us he had ‘Coom whonm.’ ” Tears glistened In Mrs Seddou’s eyes as she smiled and said, “Yes that was a pleasant visit.” As the train was about to move away Mrs Seddon said, “I would like to express my thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress, and Alderman- Forster for their kindness to us to-day. It is always a pleasure to any of the family to pay a visit to St Helens and Eeeleston.”