THE LATE MR SEDDON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8136, 19 June 1906, Page 3

THE LATE MR SEDDON.

THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.! BODY TO BE IN STATE. PKB PBKSS ASSOCIATION, Wellington, June 18. Colonel Collins, who has been appointed to marshal the funeral procession, states that the body.will lie in State at the Parliamentary buildings from nine o'clock to noon on 1 hursdayi and the procession will leive at 8,80 p.m. by way of Aitkan stroet, for St. Paul's Pro-C*thcdrnl in street, where a short service will be held, Afterwards the procession w ill proceed by way of Mulgrave street to Pipitea street, along Davis street, and Thornton Quay to Lambton Quay, past the Government buildings, up Bowen street, and through Museum street to Sydney strjet, and thence to the Cemetery gates, and through the grounds to the Observ itory. A number of bands haye offered their services, and it has l»jn arranged that they will play A ternately the " Dead March in Saul," and " Garland of Flowers."

SIR JOSEPH WARD. DUE IN WELLINGTON JULY 31. FEB PBBSB ASSOCIATION. Wellington, June 18. Sir Joseph Ward, who is to leave London next week, on the 27th inst., will reach Auckland via San Francisco on July 30th, and be in Wellington on the following evening.

THE VACANT SEAT. ME. SEDDON'SjSONS NOT CANDIDATES. PBB rBESS ASSOCIATION. . Welunoton, June 18. It is now stated on-reliable authority that neither Captain Seddon, the eldest son of \he late Premier, nor Mr I. Y. Seddon, the second son, will contest the seat rendered vacant'by their late father. Captain Seddon, it is represented, has no desire to enter political life, and Mr T. Y. Seddon is said to be desirous of continuing his law coarse without interruption. .In this case Mr Mayor of Hokitika, will no doubt bo a candidate.

a Seddon scholarship. PUB PfiESS ASSOCIATION. Wanganui, June 18. The Education Board to-night passed a resolution appreciative of the late Mr Seddon's services, and expressing sympathy with the relatives. The Board also resolved to ■ establish a " Seddon " scholarship, messages of appreciation • and sympathy.

ADJOUENMENT AT MAN AW ATU SHOW. Paihbbston Nobth, June 18. | The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce to-day passed the following resolution: —" That this Chamber desires to place on record its recognition of the splendid self-sacrificing services of the late Bight Hon. Eichard John Seddon to New Zealand and the Empire, • over a long service of years, and desires to convey to Mrs Seddon and the members of the family its heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereayement. Messrs [Nash, Symonds, and Johnston were appointed to represent the Chamber at the funeral. The Manawatu A. <fc P. Association also passed a resolution of sympathy and appointed its President, and Mr J. M. Johnston, to represent it at the fnneraL The Winter Show will be closed from 2 p.in. till 7 p.m. on the afternoon of Thursday, out of respect to the late Premier. The town is full of visitors for the Show, which commences to-morrow and lasts till Friday night.

MEMORIAL SERVICES.' Ail Wellington, June 18. In the city churches yesterday many references were madtf to the colony's loss by the death'of Mr Seddon, and expressions of sympathy were madejwith the bereaved widow and faipily, Numerous appreciations' were giyen utterance to of deceased's services to his country. The Maoris intend lo present Mrs Seddon with an address of sympathy and condolence. They also propose to collect subscriptions for the erection of a Maori technical school at Porirua to perpetuate the deceased's memory. Parties of Man is are rehearsing laments to be chanted at the funeral.

Hastings, June 18. Heferences were made in all the Churches/yesterday to the death of the late Premier. A large number of Hastings sympathisers, including several Maoris, will attend the funeral Dunedin, June 18. Memorial services were held in the city and suburban churches yesterday Mr Paul, ex-President of the Trades and Labour Council, delivered a special sermon on Mr Seddon from the Labour point of view. Chsistchubch, June 18. Memorial services to Mr Seddon were held yesterday in all the churches and immense congregations were persent. The commanding officer for the district is arranging a special church parade of all volunteers in the Canterbury district on the day of the funeral, Waihi, June 18. The greatest meeting ever held in Waihi took place yesterday in connec-! tion with the memorial demonstration in honor of the late Premier. Three thonsand persons were present. The combined choirs of all the churches rendered appropriate selections. Resolutions of sympathy were carried.

THE MOURNFUL HOMECOMING. B"- The " New Zealand Times'" special representative, who was on the Oswestry Grange with the late Premier at the time of his death, returned with the bereaved family by that steamer from Bydney. He supplies the following account of the home-coming:— The voyage of the Oswestry Grange was concluded on Saturday night, the Vessel berthing at the Glasgow Wharf shortly before midnight. That passage from Sydney will never be forgotten by those who were on board. For the greater Dart of the way fine weather was experienced, but tke ship seemed ns if enveloped in a pall. As day followed day, the mournfulness of the journey grew, till it was heart-breaking in its intensity. The ■hip's company went about their dutie lubdued and depressed, with the know

ledge (hat they were carrying back to New Zealand only the dead body of him who had loved his country so well. No one, except those who were on the vessel, will ever be able to understand the anxiety with which the first Rlimpse of land was looked forward to when Mount Egmont was sighted, with the sun slowly rising behind it like a ball of inoUen fire, the knowledge that the man who bad labomed so h ird to make that land of his adoption great reposed below, in-

animate and -jolil, stabbed into tlie | heart like a dagger. On a calm, unruffled sea, the highlands ahead glistening in the biptism of anolher day, the Osvrestry Grange, with flags at half-mast, steamed to' wards Cape Farewell, and shaped her course for Wellington. The mo:ning was bright and warm, but the snceed. mg 1 ours seemed like ages long drawn out. Pencarrow Head light was never, perhaps, looked for bifore with so much anxiety. The waiting for friends 'ind relatives had become well-nigh unbearable to those lonely watchers below, who had kept during all the week.

Pa«singdown the Straits, the steamer ran into a rough, southerly sea. Rolling heavily in tlie racing waves, throwing great clouds of spray from her bows, the ship passed by Tcrnwhiti, the deep boom of the surf 011 the rock-bound coast carrying far out to sea like the sound of minute guns—a fitting requiem of the dead. Familiar points on the coast were seen looming through the haze, the beams of Pencarrow were at last ahead, and a fervent " Thank God " fell from the lips ot all. The day, with its early sunshine, subsequent storm, and final calmness seemed in n way to hare typified the life of the great soul that now rested in peace. The ship was soon passing through the harbor entrance, and in a few minutes took the pilot on board off Karaka Bay. The Tutanekai went alongside a few minutes later, having on bo- rd members of the late Premier's

family, Ministers, and a few_ personal friends. After a brief delay in the stream, the Oswestry Grange steamed up to the wharf, and was berthed -in silence which the rattle of the telegraph bell in the engine-room cut into with startling distinctness. When the Oswestry Grange returned to Sydney on the 11th inst, with the dead body of the Premier, Mrs Seddon received innumerable letters and tele-

grams of sympathy, and everything was ddiie for lier in that hour of her tcrrib'e trial that the thoughtfulneßs of friends could suggest. No time was lost in commencing the embalming process, and the task was completed late in the evening. The body was then removed from the stateroom where it had rested, enclosed in a leaden shel', and placcd|in the saloon of the steamer, the glass plate in the coffin covered by a Ha;' There, always watched by members of the bereaved family, it remained until arrival in Wellington. When the steamer took her first departure from Sydney, her destination

was Auckland, but on her return this arrangement, was altered. It being ascertained that Mrs Seddon desired to return to Wellington as speedily as possible, the vessel was diverted to this city, a cable message being received fiom the head olllce of the Houlder line that the ship should be placed entirely at Mrs Seddon's disposal. The Oswestry Grange according sailed for Wellington direct. Phe cleared Sydney Heads at about midnight on Monday last. In connection with this, it may be said, without intrusion into the private affairs of the family, that the consideration extended to Mrs Seddon by the owners and officers, and everyone connected with the ship, was of the most thoughtful and sympathetic character.

HIS LAST VOYAGE,

A BIiVERIE ON THE PASSING OF THE PREMIER. OUTWABD BOUND. Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for ire! Anil may there be no moaning of the bar When 1 put out to sea. There had been ceaseless wanderings to and fro, and ever-accumulating work piled high upon the desk and in

the restless brain o£ the Prime Minister. The first session of a new Parliament, big with possibilities, was rapidly approaching, and the time for preparation was all too short. But still there came the call for the personal presence, and good-natured habit had made it impossible for this chief of a great political clan to say " No" to his honclmiei], wherever they might be or howevp' humble their position. How to escape it all ? The sea! There stretched the realm of solitude that would soothe the troubled spirit, shut out importunate intruders, and conduce to that uninterrupted concentration of thought that was so essential to the working out of the Great Idea of the Humanist. Many of the great men who have added important pages to the history of nations, Those work has had enduring effects upon their oyn age and upon posterity, hare, in the stressful periods of their lives, being unconscious of the full effect of their activities upon themselves. Each, in his masterfulness, has been to himself guide, philosopher, and friend—and each his ovn worst enemy.. They wprk. net because the night is coming, but because work has become" six uncontrolled habit, Too late they seek respite, and tho journey which should ineana renewal of health becomes* ft last voyage. And so this great Englishman with the Great Idea remembered a call from the C>:. monwealth. The remembrance was opportune ; he would make a neighbourly call, would have an inter, change of ideas, would bind more tightly the ties of kinship—and, above all, he would have, if only for a few days, the solace of the sea. There was keenest pleasure in the yery thought! There was peace and a great joy in the Voyage of the Outward Bound.

HOMEWARD HOUND. B >t sacli a tide as moving seems asleep Too full for sound at d foam, When that which drew from out the boundless 'deep '['urns again home. J'lie sea hud not disappointed the voyagcur. There had been undisturbed rest, peaceful communings, undistracted thinkings, and only tho work that was a pleasure to attack. Then came (lie added tonic of a new nation's welcome. Here was absolute appreciation of the great, endeivors lo do tilings .' It (Mime as the wine of life, wiihout any lees. Heartiness was i expected, but this was right royal recognition —jov exuberant. Wis it to he expected that he would not drinkdeeply of this free-llowing spirit of Iho times? Was there hint or danger signal as he passed along the line? Perhaps ; bill still there was work, and work, and still more work. After the feast came the discussions of subjects that he would not willingly let die, He had only forsaken work to do more work. And then there came the great longing for the sea and for home. Was there never to be rest? Oh, to be home again—that was God's Own Country! Kia Ora! And so he shaped his course towards the Way of the Homeward Bound.

CBOSSIXG THK BAB. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark ! And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark Once more the face is turned towards the sea ; but even the sea failed to charm. Home ! that was now the most desired haven. By his side were wife and son and daughter and servants and work—but Horn# was where heart and thought were. Work and j yet more work. The rush fulness and restlessness of life had kept the mighty force going; but now came the backwash of life's exciting, rushing, uplifting stream. " I am going to God's Own Country!" he advises a kindred spirit, and his thought struck truer than he knew. Or did he know ? Did his own throbbing brain and pulsating heart give premonition of the. Last Voyage? No one knows. But a great weariness must have-lain upon his soul and heart and mind. As the poet Tennyson had written, the voyageur had seen the "sunset and evening star,'an.l li:id heard the "one clear call for me." Jf li>k:ic, the much.

desired, was i'nr off or near at-hand, the home call fund a response in the affectionate and heart-reaching cry, "Oh, Mother!" The weary head had found a last resting-place which is the greate -t symbal of home; and the spirit had taken ils linal flight 011 the Last Voyage of the Homeward Bound. For th >i!gli from out our bourne of time and place 'I e flood in;i v hoai' mc far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When 1 have ri ..sswl Ihe bar. "Post." I