The Guardian MONDAY, MAY 11th, 1925. THE PREMIER PASSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian MONDAY, MAY 11th, 1925. THE PREMIER PASSES.

branco ns one who served his country well, and placed his country before himself. tie will be missed grentlv Irom the heal and turmoil of flit* days to come, hut in his time played his part well, fearlessly and in the desire, according to his lights, to bring; his country renown. The prestige he won for Xi>w Zealand will now he reflected upon himself.

A lu'.eu.NT work •'Western Au.strniu : A History,’’ by Dr. J. SBattye, i,s :-n addition to

" the growing hotly of original research ; bv Australian students. The author i is the public librarian of the western ! State. He has examined a vast ! amount of material, and the result is ' a closely documented and exhaustive survey. He begins by discussing the question of the discovery of Western Australia, the credit of which, as far a.s direct and definite testimony can show belongs to the Dutch. Hut the claims of the Portuguese' and of tlm French have also oeeu supported hy investigators. After weighing the evidence Dr Battye comes to the conclusion that while it p.lints, on the whole, to the acceptance of the theory that the French were the lirst on the scene, it is not sufficiently strong to enable this to lie laid down as a fact. However, it does seem to establish the proposition that something was known of .the Australian coastline prior to the advent in lOfiC of the ■‘Duyfken.’’ which is regarded a.s the first authenticated discovery. The fortunes of Western Australia have been chequered. Alter the foundation of a military past at King George’s Sound found in 182 G and in consequence of Captain Stirling’s glowing reports, came the rather disastrous attempt tc settle the Swap

abundant ; food readily obtainable, if expensive. The digger could make hi* way to diggings and live there without undue difficulty. But in the west the deposits were in inhospitable desert, much of which was virtually unexplored. The adventurers had to be prepared to edure extraordinary hardships: many indeed perished. The story is rich in romance and incident, to which the author does full justice. And so he takes us down tlm years

n rri[ almost dramatic suddenness the country heard ~i Mr Massey's serious illness. In a brief hm.-e of lime it ha- ended fatally. The bulletins while lieiny i-siied made ,imi ill[ ,( io plain, and the news'from Wellinut.w,. both private and by press correspondents, |cll litile doubt o| ihe termination to his complaint. The complain!, i! is umlor.-loud. was inward and deep-sealed, and mice it had asserted itself" its ravayes were speedy. William Fcryu-on Jf v, h., hapassed axvayin his C.Stli year, lias filled a eaoat pi;,,,, history of New Zealand, and has loomed la rye, too. on I lie Imperial horizon. Horn in Ireland, he v,as ■inn I! \,..irs of aye when he came to New Zealand. lie became a tvpit.il settler of tlte early baud of those who arrived in ihe .-even I ic-. lie was a simple farm hand in ( at.let l;ur\ lor a couple of years, working on the well-known l,onj>beach estate, hut he passed north to Auckland, in the province of which ho acquired his own farm, and by steady am! patient imlustrv made his way in life. lie was called to !’arl ia men t almost from the farm. Tile story yoes that he was lm vma kin <;•, and. perebed on the top of a load td' hisy, replied to a deputation of fellow settlers who invited him to stand lop I‘a rl in mm: 1. He was successful and entered the House of llcprescn la! i ves in I,S!)|. Naturally he h;td littmlicaps, but he .applied himself diliyrnllv iitid by HMJ.'i In* was Header of the Opposition. He had to combat the late Mr Scddon. and homy a close student of hun,'an nature, must have acquired much knoxvlcdye and insiyht of leadership in stuclyiti<»■ I’retiiicr Seddon's successful wavs with the House, the party, and the pemde. Mr Marscv was loader of the U])]iosition until l!)Fd, and (lien he -loom'd into the position of Prime Minister. Manv notable Conservatives had preceded him, and a man of shrewd common sense, a hapnv pill of speech, and an itnhlet tished r-ronl. made him a not unworthy successor to the Fitzgeralds, b’ollestoiis, ami Atkiusoti s. who had puided the country’s al'tairs fnmi their political point o| view, before him. Mill Mr Ma-sex's la-k in the pdiItcai pinte, beyan only when he became Prime Minister, lon it was not lony before he had a heavy burden to bear. He was made a Privy Councillor in HU-1, Iml in that year tin (ireat War beyan, and till thinqs were in the meltiny pot. II has been remarked that Mr Massev had his handicaps, but one of his best assets was his spirit of optimism, ami It is tenacity to hold on his course in fair weather or foul. Also he had a way with him—-or how could lie have held his party together when his majority was so slender, as almost to be neyalivc: or some of the members restive, and had to be nlacatcd even with the status of office y As a party leader, Mr Massey attained a standing which made him facile prim-eiis in recent Parliaments, and it was the man and his manner, his character and his tolerance, which made all that possible. .Vs an Imperialist Mr Massey looms la rye. He i,- the last of the wartime Premiers to yo out of oliice, and his exit is only secured by the omnipotent power which none can escape, Mr Massey was a familiar fiyure till over the Ktnpirc. He was Home on numerous missions, Imperial and Colonial, and he won ytcal praise and kudos for the manner in which he upheld the prestiye of N T ew Zealand. He xvas a Troian for work. In the political fields he was never idle. He has held most of the portfolios within the Cabinet, and all the principal ones. Indeed, his end has been hastened by bis untiriny disposition to work hard, and never to shirk a task or duty. His work aad worth for his party, and incidentally for his country, was fhorouyh-yoiny, and he never neylected nor shirked at his post. His was a strenuous life of oliice, ceaseless work, eoveriny all departments, and with a (dose touch and kiiowledye of all that went on about him. The yift of administration came to him with years and experience, for lie was tireless, ever ready to learn, ever williny to ynin kiiowledye and understandiny of the position he had to face, lie became endeared to bis tuineipai officers and colleayucs about him, while his political opponents were won over to lsu> and admire the man, and appreciate his thoronyliness' and his personal yond qualities. .Mr Massey will be mourned for as few men are remembered. He was devoted to the people, and his untiriny service for the upliftiny of bis country xvilll not be foryotten readily. liis political career was a busy one, and, as is necessary with all folk of open minds, one of evolution. Mr Masseys work has been honest and earnest, as his thirteen years of premiership bears out. Without the stamp of consistency he could not have worn so well, nor have kept the party behind him. He became a yreat man nmonyst liis confreres, eclipsiity them all. and standiny hiyli above those whose support carried him so far, but in all his success he was modest and verv human. Tits race was well run. The name of Mr Massey litis been associated lony with .Yew Zealand. It will lony remain in association, and Mr Massey will be held in yrateful romem-

Biter in 182!). Probably the extent of the lailure has been exaggerated, but it was long before tin? little ei b uy made headway. Peel, the leader, was not the man ter the t:r-k. M ny of ; the settlers had concei.ed r. wholly erroneous idea of conditions in a new country, and were uniitted for the life. Many drifted to other colonies. The remainder had a hard row to hop before they achieved even a measure of prosperity. Then followed uneventful ye is if gradual but steady progress until the discovery of gold opened a new era iu the story cf Western Australia, to which Dr. Battye devotes some extremely interesting chapters. The discovery of gold gave a tremendous imptd.se to the development of Western Australia, as had happened also in other colonies. But there was a difference. In New South Wales and Victoria, the goldlield.s were near settled regions. Water was

to the inauguration of the Commonwealth, with which liis chronicle ends. Dr liattye's work is a monument of painstaking investigation and an imI' U tant contribution to the library of Australian literature.

It is notified that, the schools in the district will he closed on Tliurs:l : v next.

Famous field hoots. double tongue and soles, 24s (id and 2ns (id at llalleiistein's, Hevell Ft.—Advt.

Mr !•'. 11. Gallop, milk vendor, noti lies that as from dune Ist the price o milk- will he reduced.

The lion. 11. L. .Michel. M.1..C. leaves for Wellington to-morrow to at tend the funeral of the Prime Minister

-A meet ino ~f the Ladies Hockey Clul will he held at Slow's Tea Dooms at 7 o'clock this evening:.— Advt.

Owing is; i;.c death of the Premier. the meeting ol' [7:»* Westland SubI'nioii called for this evciuii.; will not be held.

At a meeting held at Kokatahi on Saturday evening it was resolved to hold the Kokatahi Winter Show m the Public Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday. June Kith and 17ih.

During the year ended March mortgages to the value of £ll ,1-51.1 <>o were registered in the Dominion as against £87.802.11!) in the preceding year. Those discharged amounted to £2!).7.'12.,5(if>, as against £22.24b.012. The annual value id j, elisions ]aid by the Government 1 ;:.-■ t year was i-2.821 .! b'»7. War peiii-mns accounted for £ 1.107,7) !8. besides tlsiHOfl paid ill lan don. (lid age ] elisions cost £8 I’d. 1 lit. and widows' pensions £28!)..',0:1. Owing to the death of Ut. lion. W. [•'. .Massey, tlie f line* ions fixed lor this week: on ike Wednesday and Thursday in connect ion with the Hemmed Sol-

diers’ Association campaign for funds have been postponed till uox! week aa mark of iv.pei i in Cue Prime .Min-

ister’s great interim in the welfare ol the mou while at the front. The I unctions will now la* held lies 1 week on elates to he announced hil"r.

The Westland County Council meeting called for to-morrow will he confined to passing a motion of condolence with tin* Prime Minister'- family in their li. reavcmeui. and the general business will he postponed till t lie day of lhe ai, mud meet ing on the 27th. ilist. At the it*i|Hl of several mem hers of the Cnumil, Mr 1.. A. Wells. Coma v t'haine.au is leaving for AVollingion in the morning to represent the County "I Westland at the funeral on Thursday. Mr Wells will return on Sal unlay. I -1 m :lil tin* billowing telegram wa- (i"-nau lied by .Mr O'Brieii. M.P.. ".\* ting Prime Min'-tiT. Wellington. Will Will and your colleagues kindly accept inv eondolenres for tin* 10-. sof a. sterling friend, and ph'a.-e ninvey my 'deepest sympathy to Mrs Massey and fan By. (Signed) das ((’linen. Air (t’lirieii also sent to .Mrs Massey (lie following telegram lasi night : "Please accept (lie deep sympathy ol the people of Westland and myself m your sail bereavement. (signed) das O'flncn. ’ Next Friday at the Soldiers' Hall, Nurse Spring ol the 1 lunket Society. Groymouth. will visit Hokitika lor the purpose of meeting mothers and giving adviie as to the treatment ol the young. As indicating the scope of the work carried out at the lilts I monthly meeting of the Giwnieut li Pluuket Sncietv on last Friday afternoon. N u

■-''prill'.;' reported t ll.it she had paid sixty-seven visits tn homes during tin' 11101:1 h, while eight y-.--eve!i adults nml forty-nine babies i>it> (1 tin* ns'ius. Ihe actual mini! it it isms t rented v\ :i.s ill i I'ty-une. The lion. 11. 1.. .M n Is'l has lurunnl--I‘d the following telegram to Mrs Massey \Vi> know that words ran do hut lit tie to soften your snrrmv. lull .Mrs Mirin'! and I extend M you and till, nen'lier-. of \ our lannb, our licnllii'll swiipnthw ihe late Mr M;i..e'. .v l ll lie ivine.'iihered not only as one ol the greatest siatcsium of all 111 hum's Overseas countries, hut also as one ol ■ the most distinguished and laithlul servants of the British Kmpire. It. may help to eomlort you to know that you were the worthy wile ol -e great a mail." 11. 1.. Michel. (let one of our all wool coal sweaters its lid to Ill's (id. 11 alien stein's, i’evell St. —Ad v t. ,\n Order-in-Ojuu si published in the last (dinette prohibits, save in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the .Minister for Agriculture, the importation of any live poultry (ini lulling domestic fouls, ducks, geese and turkeys) from any country other than the Coimidmuealtli of Australia, unless each lot is accoin|.'anied by a eert ilicate dated not more than one month before the exportation of the poultry to which it relates, and signed by a ros].‘unsible ollicer of the Government of the coun-

try ul' i'N]urt. (ertifying that fuwlpe.st (Rest a gallinariim) has nut been known to occur in that country during a ucriiai >s 1 two yours immediately p reeding the date nt the cert il'e ate. .Mr IC. A. Wells. County Chairman, sent tiie [oilin', ill” telegraphic message to the lion. Acting Prime .Minister. Wellington today: ‘'Deeply regret learn passing lit lion. Mr Massey, whose great services to Dominion and Kmplre made him such outstanding figure. Ilis work tint! worth are appreciated on till sides. and deepest iVeling regret at lies being expressed generally. On hehalf of Westland County please convey to Mrs Massey and family sincere feeling sorrow felt by this community in liereavemeut. At, request Council am attending funeral at Wellington Thursday. (Signedt K. A. Wells. County Chairman." Ry the death yesterday o! Mrs Catherine .Meat's, at the residence ol her. daughter. Mrs . Roach, at Westport, anollter of the few remaining links with the early days of the West Coast was broken. When she arrived tit 110Jiitilia. it was a town of tents, and she was the fourth ICttropean woman to arrive on the Runoghitcs goldfield botiiv. Ross. The late Mrs Meats, who had reached the advanced ape ol 90 years, was a native of County Clare, Ireland. She was very highly esteetiv ed liv a wide circle of friends throughout ti e ’West Coast. For twenty years, after leavinp Moss, site resided at Creymouth, and only six months ago

went to reside at Westport wttlt her daughter. -Mrs Roach. She ids, leaves three sens. Air Michael -Meats, of C Impel St.. Creymouth: Mr Thomas .Meats, of Kotitku : and Mr Andrew Meat's, of Tasmania.

Roys' all Wool Colonial jerseys, all sizes at os lid at 1!allen-tein's. Reveil St.—Advt.