Death of the Hon. J. Ballance.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 5, 29 April 1893, Page 7

Death of the Hon. J. Ballance.

The Premier, who had been in ill-health foir some months past, died on Thursday evening at his residence in Wellington. A fortnight ago he was sufficiently well to take a trip round the Harbour in the Government launch Ellen Ballance, but a dby or two later he had. a severe relapse, and on Sunday last, the intestinal obstruction haring become more acute, and all other means haring been tried without success, it was absolutely necessary to afford the pstient relief by an operation. This was successfully performed by Drs. Cleghorn, Henry, and Eell, and Mr Ballance felt immediate relief. Since Saturday, bower or, he had been unable to partake of any food, but on Wednesday champagne was injected and garo temporary relief. The patient’s weakened constitution gare the utmost anxiety to his friends, and on Thursday a decided change for the worse took place, and at 1.35 p.m. his medical advisers gave up all hope and intimated that the end was not far off. During the afternoon Mr Ballanca became unconscious and remained so tilldeath. Among those around his death-bed were Mrs Ballance, two of her sisters, and her brother, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Patrick. Buckley, the Hons. Cadman, Sc.ddon, Beeves, and McKenzie, Drs. Henry, Cleghorn, and Fell, and Mr A. M. Smith, his private Secretary. Drs. Books and Gape examined the body of Mr Ballance after death and found astricture in the course of the bowels which must have proved fatal. The funeral will take place in Wanganui on Sunday afternoon. The death of the Premier has been recognised as a calamity throughout the colony, and expressions of regret are heard everywhere. Mr Ballance was in his fifty-fifth year, haring been born in Antrim on March 27th, 1839. He arrived in New Zealand in August, 1865, He leaves a widow and adopted daughter. .