THE LATE MR TURNBULL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2273, 29 October 1891, Page 4

THE LATE MR TURNBULL.

At Timaru on Tuesday afternoon last the Hon. J. Ballance performed the ceremony of unveiling the memorial erected to the memory of the late Mr Eichard Turnbull, (for many years member for Timaru), in the presence of nearly 300 people. Among those present were the Mayor (Mr D. M. Boss), Mr J. Hill, Chairman of Committee; Mr Hall-Jones, Member for Timaru; Major Steward, Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives; Mr A. E G. Ehodes, Member for Geral line; Mr Wray, E.M.; Mr Lough, Town Clerk ; and most members of the Borough Council, and Messrs Howell and • TaSboti • representing the Geraldine County Council, and representatives of the Foresters. The Ven. Archdeacon Harper and the Hon. W. Kolleston sent apologies for non-attendance. The monument is a plain obelisk of white Italian marble, with proportionate base, resting upon a foundation of Timaru grey stone, and bears upon it the following inscription:—"Erected by the friends of the late Eichard Turnbull, M.H.E., for Timaru; to the memory_ oi many valuable public and private services rendered by him to South Canterbury and the colony. Born January 17, 1826 ; died July 17, 1800." The Premier in unveiling the memorial made a touching allusion to the life of the deceased. He spoke of his uprightness in public and private life, and the grief his untimely death created. The Premier said he had heard of his benevolence, and kindness, and self-sacrifice in attending to the wants of the poor and needy; he had heard of his great virtues as a citizen, and his scrupulous discharge of all the duties that fell to -his lot. In ull the relations of family lire, a broad and tender love and devotion appeared, and he knew full well how great a gap his untimely death created in the family circle. He was a man of widest sympathies, who regarded not artificial distinctions of rank or°differences of race or creed or of opinion; and while he was this he was essentially a New Zealander. All his services were devoted to the welfare of his adopted country, the future of which was to him a burningpassion. He was essentially apatriot. Viewing him in various aspects they could gay that there were few men indeed whose private virtues and public character would eclipse those of the late Mr Turnbull. They would all treasure his memory, and he believed it would remain as a stimulus to the rising generation.