THE LATE MR BALLANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2497, 2 May 1893, Page 3

THE LATE MR BALLANCE.

Profound sorrow has been felt all over the colony at the death of Mr Ballance. Wherever Courts were held, they were adjourned out of respect to his memory. Mr C. A. Wray, in adjourning tho Court in Timaru last Fridayf said that ho had enjoyed a long acquaintance with Mr Ballance, an acquaintance of twenty-live years, of which twenty wore spent in Wanganui, his own home, and ho had special means of knowing the devoted manner in which he served his country and his many estimable qualities. He was sure all would feel great sympathy with Mrs BaUance in the great loss she has sustained.

The Mayor of Timaru in the afternoon, on behalf of the Borough Council and burgesses, sent a telegram of condolence to Mrs Ballance.

The special train which left Dunedin at 7 a.m. reached Timaru about 12.20. There were only half a dozen passengers on the train when it arrived here—Messrs Earushaw and Dawson, M.H.R.’s, from Dunedin; the Hon. S. E. Skrimsk., M.L.G., Mr T. Duncan, M.H.R., and Mr G. Jones, an ex-M.H.R., from Oamara, and a lady. Mr Hall-Jones member for Timaru, joined tho train, and it passed through at 12.40., going at tho rate of about 40 miles an hour.

From the special correspondent of tho Lyttelton Times we learn that all day on Saturday in Wellington the florists’ shops were beseiged by men desirous of purchasing flowers for wreaths, and several were distracted because no one would take their orders. There was an enormous number of wreaths of various designs. Mrs J. G. Ward’s wreath was made of daffodds, jonquils, and narcissi, tho favorite flowers of the deceased. Wreaths were sent from the Railway Works, Christchurch, in charge of the Hon. Mr Jenkinson. The train which bore the funeral cortege travelled at times at the rate of 53 miles an hour, making only a few stoppages in the 160 miles. At Masterton ai the train swept through at top speed crowds were noticed in the vicinity of the railway station, and on the platform the local band was playing the “ Dead March.”

On last Sunday references were made in many of the churches throughout the colony at the death of the late Premier. Wellington, April 28.

The Acting-Premier received the following letter from the Governor last evening : —“ The Governor has heard with much regret from Sir P. Buckley of the death of the Premier, and he desires to take the earliest opportunity of expressing to his Ministers his sense of the great loss the colony has sustained in the removal of so able and experienced a statesman. He also desires to express his own sorrow at the loss of one with whom his personal relations have ever been of a most pleasant and cordial description, and whose courteous assistance and counsel have always been at the disposal of the Governor during this his first year of office.”

Describing the operation performed on Mr Ballance, the Evening Post says :“A room had been specially prepared, everything being saturated with carbolic antiseptics. Dr Cleghorn was to perform the operation, Dr Fell assisting him, and Dr McGregor and Dr McKenzie were there with Dr Henry. When the summons came, the Premier, casting off in an extraordinary manner tho depression and weakness which suspense had produced, sprang out of bed, and walking unassisted to the operating room, shook hands cordially with the medical men, said good-bye to all, stepped on to the operating table, and throwing himself upon his back, bade the operators begin. It was a wonderful example of physical courage triumphing over physical weakness. Chloroform was administered, and for about two hours and a-half the operation was proceeded with. It was still incomplete when it was felt that it would not be safe to continue, and the patient was brought back to semi-consciousness, Dqrlng all this time his relatives, Sir Robert Stout, and*his colleagues, had been waiting, fearing the worst as the moments went by. Next morning Mr Baffagee waa paitiy conscious, and was able to speak hopefully to hia brother-in-law and Sir Robert Stout of the ultimate siicoesa of the operation. At a further consultation that evening it waa decided that tho operation might be resumed on Tuesday morning, Once more that anxious group of Ministers and friends gathered at the Premier’s residence, and once more the poor sufferer, who had been kept more or less under the power of opiates, was laid upon the operating board and placed under the knife. At 8 a.m. the operation was resumed, and by 11 o’clock it was successfully completed. The old adhesions were removed, and the obstruction overcome, the gaping wounds sewn up, and a syphon inserted. As tho sequel proved, vitality was too exhausted to bear up, uuder the strain, and the knife of the surgeon was applied all too late. While at Wanganui au English physician of note, who happened to bo in the colony, told the Premier that an operation would have to be undergone, and advised a long sea voyage of six months. Mr Ballance at that time, waa sanguine of recovery, and did not wish to resign, hut he liked tho idea of a sea voyage, and intended to have taken a trip in the Hinemoa if possible. It may be mentioned that the late Premier was twice married. He leaves no children of his own, but had adopted one of his nieces, His life was insured for £IOOO in the Government office.” April 29. The Governor has received the following message from Lord Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonics : “ Regret learn death Ballance.” The National Liberal Association and Irish National Federation branches have passed resolutions of sympathy with Mrs Ballanco. The Masons of Lodge I’Amour dolaYorste, had a special in memorial! meeting. The room was draped with black. A special meeting of tho Council of the Chamber of Commerce also passed a resolution appropriate to the occasion. Sympathetic telegrams have been received from Mr Rolleston and Sir John Hall.

Mr Perceval has cabled that he much laments the death of tho Premier, and that the greatest regret is expressed in colonial and business circles. Sir John Hall wires regretting that he is unable to attend the fupmrai, as ho is ill in bed.

Noyer iu the histoiy of Wellington was there such an assemblage as met this morning to pay the last respect to the memory of the late Premier. Notwithstanding that the funeral was annoum, <;c] for (5.30 a.m., the streets boro a busy aspect ic>ng before that hour. Shoi-.ly ,'i.ltcr daybreak eager spectators assemh ed in front of the Ministerial residence in Tiir.kori Road, iu which Mrßallanco dr d, and about 0.30a.m. the volunteers begin to uiusleriu f«rco,followed shortly alter »vn Is by rhe friends of the deceased. A sto eg i!e;t:.chmout of police, under inspc >r i. •,:;der, kept the Ministerial. grin Is f.yo, eviupt ot those pbfsoua iyho had no

’ light of entry. A detachmont of the Permanent Artillery, who were form the firing party, were the first to invest the grounds, and were drawn up in a line in front of the main entrance, fho friends of Mr Ballance who had arrived early had an opportunity of viewing the body, but shortly before 7 o’clock the coffin was screwed down and preparations made for the funeral. Innumerable wreaths were delivered at the residence, sent from all parts of the colony, and by persons and associations of all political opinions. By 7 o’clock Captain Hickford, of the Katoomba, with several officers and twenty-five seamen arrived, and from this out the assemblage increased, as carriages containing the members of the Government, many Councillors, and prominent citizens arrived, and drove into the grounds and formed a line in front of the residence. About 7.15 the coffin was carried from the drawing-room and placed on a gun-carriage in charge of a detachment of the D Battery, and a second or two later the mournful sound of the Dead March, played by the Garrison Band, announced that the remains of Mr Ballanco were proceeding to their last resting place. The volunteers and the men from the Katoomba, the latter wearing craps bauds, headed the cortege. After these came the firing party, and the gun-carriage with the coffin covered by the Union Jack followed. Mr McKuight, of Palmerston North, was chief mourner, with the Messrs Anderson, brothers of Mrs Ballanco, the Ministers acting as pall-bearers. The procession, which extended the whole length of Hill Street, comprised all the leading citizens in Wellington besides the numerous friends of the deceased, who had arrived from all parts of the colony, including the Speaker of the House of Represntatives and several southern members. The streets were thronged throughout the line of procession, and at the railway station immense crowds had gathered. It was quite 8 a.m. before the station was reached, but little time was lost in placing the coffin on board At 8.15 the train conveying about 500 invited by the Ministers left for Wanganui, and was followed a few minutes later by the public train, which was largely patronised. Flags were flying hidf mast all day. Wanganui, April 30. The remains of the late Premier were interred to-day in the presence of a great concourse of people. Visitors and reporters commenced to arrive by Saturday’s train, and by the time the last special got in to-day the town was thronged. The fact of the funeral being With Masonic honors attracted an immense number of Masons from all over the colony, as many as forty lodges being represented. The Governor,the Ministry, both Houses of Parliament, Volunteer Corps, Fire Brigades, and other public men and bodies, sent numerous representatives. Early in the afternoon the firobell began to toll for the dead, and people began to fill the thoroughfares, all wending their way towards the railway station to witness the arrival of the special train. This was timed to get in soon after 2 o’clock, but it was 3 o’clock before it arrived, and by that hour it was with difficulty that standing room was obtained on Taupo Quay near the railway station. The Napier train arrived just before 2 o’clock, bringing a full complement of mourners from Napier, Waipawa, Danevirke, Woodville, Palmerston, Feeding, and Marton, including the Mauawatu Mounted Rifles. The Government train, carrying the remains, brought up a large complement of Wellington and southern people. The Governor’s representatives wore Captain Hunter Blair and Captain Clayton, and all the Ministers, Sir Robert Stout, the Speakers of both Houses, and a large number of Legislative Councillors and members of the House, representing districts from Auckland to Dunedin, were present. Mrs Ballance was accompanm' 1 by Mrs Anderson and Mis o * The Wellington and 4 . , ' U ■ Lodges regret*'' , * 4 IT™ .. “° .on that they did not know • to be a Masonic funeral, or they would have been officially represented. When the remains arrived a procession Was drawn up. The following is the order of the largest funeral cortege Wanganui had ever seen ; Firing Party, including Penuanent Artillery. Wanganui Garrison Band. Wanganui Towii Board, Otaki Native Baud. Freemasons. Gun-carriage with Coffin (Pall-bearers walking on either side). Tylers. Chief Mourners. Governor’s Representatives. Foreign Consuls, Members of the General Assembly. The Mayor and Councillors of Wanganui. Members of the .Harbor and River Trust Boards. Wanganui Herald Staff. Bank of New Zealand Officers, Civil Servants. Alexandra Cavalry. Volunteer Officers. Old Members of the Wanganui Cavalry. Wanganui Fire Brigade. Foresters. Railway Employees. The General Public. The whole formed a gigantic procession, which, including the public following on the footpaths, must have numbered something like 4000 or 5000 people. The great concourse moved slowly to the cemetery, taking the route of Victoria Avenue, along Guyton street and Cemetery Road. In the cemetery a large Square was reserved for the mourners, police —representatives of whom were present from almost every station between New Plymouth and Wanganui under Inspector Thomson—and the Alexandra Cavalry, keeping back the large crowds anxious to get as near a view as possible of the ceremony. The chief mourners assembled close to the grave, accompanied by prominent Masons. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. O. Williams, P.C.S. of the Tongariro Lodge, assisted by Bros. H. Keesing, F.M., and J. Stevens, W.R.M. The Masonic odes “ Solemn strike the Funeral Chimes,” and “ Days and Moments quickly Flying,” were sung, and the usual service was x-ead. The words “ We cherish his memory hero below ; we commend his spirit to God who gave it; wu commit his body la the grave,” were repeated threw dimes by the Masons with appropriate signs. The Mason,ic apron, the emblem of purity, was deposited in the grave, after which Brother Keesing pronounced the Benediction, “Merciful and Almighty, may the virtues of our departed Brother bo ever green in Thy memory us. they will be in ours.” The brethren deposited green acacia twigs in the grave, accompanied by the words “ Also my Brother,” and the ceremony was brought to a conclusion by the tiring party of 230 men. A great number of wreaths were sent, a tiro brigade ladder-carriage being covered with them. AU the Ministers were at Premier's Omeral to-dm/ as the Hon. Messrs yhi’otski,.!minings, McCullough, Richardson, Jcnkinson, Rigg, Vmdker, !UK | Kelly, of the Legislative Council, and the following members of the House y{ Rep?oi?eutu-

ives : —The Speaker, Messrs P. Thompson, W. L. Rees, E. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, J. G. Wilson, Bnick, Buchanan, G. Hutcheson, R Moore, Joyce, Wi Parata, Knpa, Hall-Jones, McGuire, G. Fisher, Mills, W. Karnshaw, Dawson, Sandford, Tanner, and Richardson. London, April 28. The Marquis of Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has expressed to Mr W. B. Perceval, Agent-General for New Zealand, Ms great regret at the death of Mr Bnllauce.