Our Late Premier.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3687, 16 June 1906, Page 3

Our Late Premier.

newspaper tributes

The newspapers of the colon}’ contain many brilliant eulogies o the late Mr Seldom We clip the following extracts Christchurch Truth.—Mr Seddon’s name was known where New Zealand’s was not, and New Zealand reflected the glory of its great Prime Minister as its own. The colony’s loss is almost immeasureable. The pity ol it is that this big-hearted leader of a young nation killed himself by his own insatiable craving for work. We sent him to Australia on a holiday to recuperate his spent powers and enjoy the quiet of rest, and we know how he rested. A man of giant physique and iron constitution, he wore out the human machine in the country’s service, and another of the men who have served New Zealand well has died in harness, a victim to the cares of office.

Pahiatua Era. —His one desire, the inspiration of everything lie undertook, was to increase the comfort of the people, to banish want and the terrors' of poverty, as far as it is possible to do so by legislation, and to prevent? ;the growth of ..conditions that have made life among such a vast proportion of the people in the land from which he came so unlovely, so barren of joy and so ruthlessly destructive of human happiness. In this exalted purpose be succeeded as no man who has preceded him, and, we greatly fear, as _ no man who follows him in the immediate future will, and it_ it because of this that his passing away with such tragic suddenness, yet so much in the manner that .became him as a man of action and a leader of men, that such poignant sorrow has been aroused and such tender and pathetic recollection awakened among those who knew him personally and revered him, as among those who looked and marvelled at him from afar off: tie is gone, leaving a gap which no one at present in the eye of the country can ever aspire to fill as he did.

Wellington Post.—At last it has been proved that even his own prodigious strength has been overtaxed. “ Though one were as strong as seven, he too with death shall dwell.” Dying at the very summit of his fame, he has achieved what most of the great fighters of the world have esteemed at least an equal boon. Applying this test, it seems hard indeed to imagine that Mr Seddou’s reputation could ever have attained a higher pinnacle than that on which it was placed by the Wonderful victory with which he swept the polls of this colony in December last, and the stamp of the world's recognition which, may be said to have been placed upon him in Australia. Auckland is with a bitter sense o. personal deprivation that those who have known him intimately must reflect that the Strong hand is nerveless, the cheery voice is silent, the brave heart is still, but even from the depths of sadness there rises a sense of satisfaction at the thought that his lifework was well done, that he knew the joys ol victory without (he bitterness of defeat, and that every man and woman who loves the home-land and the Empire shares with us to-day out sorrow that a “a great man is dead.” THE PREMIERSHIP. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones was summoned by the Governor to attend at Government House and requested to form a Ministry. The outcome of the interview is the following ' statement made by Mr Hall-Jones to a Post reporter : “ The constitutional position has been carefully considered, and there is no doubt as to the course which should be followed. A Prim£ Minister must be appointed and meet Parliament. His Excellency has done me the honour to request me to take the position, and in the circumstances, I consider it my duty to accept. • ‘ Though quite unfettered as to my action, I have informed his Excellency as to the course which I feel myself in honour bound to follow- ■ The position is that Sir Joseph Ward who, in the ordinary course, would have been sent for, is out of the colony, and in his absence there must be a Premier. “I believe the people of New Zeafand have confidence in my desire and resolve to do thatwhicn is in accordance with their wishes and the dictates of my own honour. Meanwhile the members of the Government will continue to carp on duties as usual.. The new Premier will have to be sworn in, he will re-appoint his present colleagues, and the reconstituted Ministry will carry on business as usual till Parliament meets on the date appointed, 27th June. Only

formal business will be taken, including the voting of supplies, xnd an adjournment will then be nade for a few weeks to enable hr Joseph Ward to arrive in the 'olony, when, as suggested by the Mon. W. Hall-Jones in the above latement, he will hand over the conduct of affairs to Sir Joseph Yard.

The Post and Telegraph Master, Mr A. D. Clemett, lids received id vice that alf Telegraph Offices will be re-opened at 10 o’clock tonight to receive message from the Premier, Hon. Hall'•Jones —probably relative to Premier’s interment and arrangements. No advice has yet been received in Foxton as to the arrival of the Oswestry Grange.